Ecological civilization drives environmental improvement

Positive changes

Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 epidemic, the government has embarked on a comprehensive green transition that is expected to bring even more positive changes.

In September 2020, Xi announced that the country aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

"China will follow the Thought on Ecological Civilization and implement the new development philosophy. We will aim to achieve greener socioeconomic development in all aspects, with a special focus on developing green and low-carbon energy," said Xi when he addressed the Leaders Summit on Climate, a virtual event, in April last year.

A number of concrete climate actions have also been rolled out. In October, the central authorities unveiled a master guideline for the work required to achieve the country's climate targets, laying out specific goals and measures for the coming decades.

For example, the document pledged to gradually increase the share of nonfossil fuel consumption to about 20 percent of the energy mix by 2025, followed by about 25 percent by 2030 and more than 80 percent by 2060.

The central government is still working on specific action plans to enable different sectors to peak emissions.

"With the rapid growth of its carbon dioxide emissions largely reversed, China is heading toward modernization, following a path that is characterized by the harmonious coexistence of man and nature," said Wang Jinnan, head of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning.