Briefly

CPPCC lectures promote 'ecological civilization'

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held a promotion meeting on Thursday, in which two of its members gave lectures on the creation of an ecological civilization. Other CPPCC members attended the meeting in Beijing and in Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui autonomous region by video link. It was one of a series of activities organized by the CPPCC to promote the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Song Xin, chairman of China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, gave a speech on the practice of green and low-carbon development from Beijing. Jiang Qi, a researcher of forestry and grassland ecology from Ningxia, shared a story about the Three-North Shelter Forest Program from Yinchuan.

China renews yellow alert for drought

China's national observatory on Saturday renewed a yellow alert — the third-most severe in a four-tier system — for drought, as multiple regions continue to suffer a lack of rainfall. Moderate to severe drought is lingering in areas of vast areas of central and southern China, according to the National Meteorological Center. The center said that extreme drought has hit parts of Hunan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Jiangxi, Hubei and Guangxi regions. While precipitation will bring some relief in the next three days, most areas will continue to see dry weather. The observatory advised local authorities to use emergency water sources to ensure the water supply, particularly for residents, and warned of the risk of forest fires in places.

China Daily - Xinhua