August 15 is China's National Ecology Day. Around this occasion, China places the building of an ecological civilization in a prominent position, stressing a path that prioritizes ecological conservation and pursues green development, and working to lay a greener foundation for growth. China also positions itself as a participant, contributor and leader in building a global ecological civilization.
Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets
In China's approach to green development, the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets is often repeated. It means that a healthy environment is itself a form of wealth, and that protecting ecology and developing the economy are not opposed but can reinforce each other. In recent years, from afforestation to pollution control and from energy transition to green and low-carbon development, a series of measures have pointed in the same direction.
From ideas to action
Beyond ideas is sustained action. China has set goals for peaking carbon emissions and reaching carbon neutrality, and is pushing its energy mix toward clean and low-carbon sources, while placing more emphasis on harmony between people and nature in the governance of cities and the countryside. Green is gradually shifting from a development requirement into a mode of production and a way of life.
For ordinary people, National Ecology Day is both a reminder and an invitation: from saving a kilowatt-hour of electricity or using one fewer plastic bag to choosing greener ways to travel, the small choices of daily life eventually feed into a larger picture. Building a greener and more harmonious future takes national planning, and also the participation of everyone.
