Green development becomes consensus in China

Editor’s note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 70 years, China has made great achievements in protecting its eco environment. Today, the concept of green development has widely been accepted in the country and the quality of the environment is steadily improving. This issue, let’s take a look at how Chinese people implement the concept of "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and what results they have achieved.

Air quality continues to improve

Story: After an early summer shower, Gao Xiang, a Beijing resident, took a deep breath of fresh air. "We used to hide from the rain because it was dirty. Now the rain is much cleaner," he said. Thanks to the replacement of coal with natural gas and electricity from 2013 to 2018, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 air particles in Beijing has fallen by 43.3 percent. The number of days with good air quality has increased from 175 to 227, and the number of days with heavy pollution has decreased from 58 to 15.
   

Data: Since the promulgation of its Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in 2013, China has achieved preliminary results in the control of air pollution. In 2018, 121 (35.8 percent) of 338 Chinese cities at and above the prefectural level met national air quality standards. These same cities reported excellent air quality on 79.3 percent of days and severe and worse pollution on only 2.2 percent of days. Air quality continues to improve, and the degree of pollution lessens.

World's largest increase in forest resources

 

Story: Wu Chaoshun, 46, was all smiles when he looked at the mangoes hanging from the trees. He used to run a coal mine in Huaping County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Coal mining was once one of the county's pillar industries, but it damaged local ecosystems. In recent years, the country undertook an industrial restructuring push, shutting down coal mines and turning them into mango orchards. Currently, the county's mango planting area has exceeded 20,000 hectares, bringing in an annual value of more than one billion yuan (about 141.92 million US dollars).

Data: Since 2012, China has afforested 33.87 million hectares of land, bringing its forest coverage to 208 million hectares and registering the largest increase in forest resources in the world. Today, the country boasts a forest coverage rate of 21.66 percent, as well as timber stocks of 15.137 billion cubic meters. China reported its deserts were expanding at a rate of more than 10,000 square kilometres annually in the late 20th century. Now, the area of deserts are reduced by 2,400 square kilometres annually.

 

Green development becomes consensus in China

Editors note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. Over the past 70 years, China has made great achievements in protecting its eco environment. Today, the concept of green development has widely been accepted in the country and the quality of the environment is steadily improving. This issue, lets take a look at how Chinese people implement the concept of Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and what results they have achieved.

Air quality continues to improve Story: After an early summer shower, Gao Xiang, a Beijing resident, took a deep breath of fresh air. We used to hide from the rain because it was dirty. Now the rain is much cleaner, he said. Thanks to the replacement of coal with natural gas and electricity from 2013 to 2018, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 air particles in Beijing has fallen by 43.3 percent. The number of days with good air quality has increased from 175 to 227, and the number of days with heavy pollution has decreased from 58 to 15. Data: Since the promulgation of its Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in 2013, China has achieved preliminary results in the control of air pollution. In 2018, 121 (35.8 percent) of 338 Chinese cities at and above the prefectural level met national air quality standards. These same cities reported excellent air quality on 79.3 percent of days and severe and worse pollution on only 2.2 percent of days. Air quality continues to improve, and the degree of pollution lessens. Worlds largest increase in forest resources Story: Wu Chaoshun, 46, was all smiles when he looked at the mangoes hanging from the trees. He used to run a coal mine in Huaping County, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. Coal mining was once one of the countys pillar industries, but it damaged local ecosystems. In recent years, the country undertook an industrial restructuring push, shutting down coal mines and turning them into mango orchards. Currently, the countys mango planting area has exceeded 20,000 hectares, bringing in an annual value of more than one billion yuan (about 141.92 million US dollars). Data: Since 2012, China has afforested 33.87 million hectares of land, bringing its forest coverage to 208 million hectares and registering the largest increase in forest resources in the world. Today, the country boasts a forest coverage rate of 21.66 percent, as well as timber stocks of 15.137 billion cubic meters. China reported its deserts were expanding at a rate of more than 10,000 square kilometres annually in the late 20th century. Now, the area of deserts are reduced by 2,400 square kilometres annually.