"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit" is a quote I was reminded of while reading Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. It reflects the book's long-term perspective and its presentation of leadership as stewardship: development should be managed not for personal profit, but for future generations.
Xi's emphasis on sustainable growth and ecological civilization suggests that good government is like planting trees: it requires patience, selflessness and a commitment to benefits that may not become visible for years.
Environmental concerns have been incorporated into China's constitution and national development goals. Local governments are increasingly judged not only by their economic performance, but also by how well they protect the environment.
This shift has contributed to major changes in industry, with China emerging as a global leader in green technology. At the same time, it has made it more difficult for heavily polluting industries to operate without restriction.
This is consistent with one of Xi's best-known statements: "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." China's pledge to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 reflects this environmental ambition.
In the United States, material wealth has increasingly become a measure of national success. Gross national product (GNP) was often treated as a comprehensive indicator of progress, even though it records economic activity regardless of whether that activity improves people's lives.
As Robert F. Kennedy observed in a 1968 speech, it can count pollution, crime, destruction and military expenditure while excluding children's health, educational quality, compassion, wisdom and the integrity of public life. In his words, it measures many things "except that which makes life worthwhile".
Such a system captures economic activity without distinguishing between productive growth and social or environmental costs. Efforts such as environmental accounting and China's emphasis on ecological progress seek to address this limitation by incorporating environmental costs into assessments of national development. This approach moves beyond purely quantitative measures of output by recognizing that not all growth contributes equally to long-term well-being.
If you live in or visit China, you will see firsthand evidence of ecological civilization in practice. From bus stops to apartment complexes, there are reminders to keep China green.
One of the most widely recognized examples of ecological progress in China is the "Great Green Wall", which aims to slow and reverse desert expansion across northern China. Through decades of large-scale tree planting and land management, the project has become a symbol of Chinese environmental governance. Like any project of this size, it has faced challenges, including concerns about water use and the suitability of certain tree species. Still, it demonstrates the importance of long-term environmental planning.
As a member of Gen Z, I have a personal interest in global ecology because today's environmental decisions will shape the conditions in which my generation must live.
Every generation inherits a world it did not create and becomes responsible for what it passes on. Environmental stewardship is therefore not only a political or economic concern, but also a moral obligation between generations.
Growing up in the US, ecological sustainability was part of my elementary school education. Reminders to recycle, turn off the lights when leaving home, or donate a dollar to charity while buying coffee were common. It would be logical to conclude that, given this education, the country's natural beauty and strong rural culture, the US would be a global leader in ecological sustainability.
However, as painful as it is to admit, this is not entirely the case. The US is responsible for more cumulative carbon dioxide emissions than any other country, and its emissions per person remain among the highest in the world. Although efforts have been made to develop sustainable energy, recent federal policies have also sought to reverse or weaken some environmental protections.
I hope that in the future, Americans can better understand that prosperity is not isolated, but shared among individuals, communities and people across the world.
I also hope that American leadership can learn from the farsighted, long-term approach emphasized in Chinese governance, while recognizing that every country, including China, still faces serious environmental challenges of its own.
That vision returns us to the image of planting trees today so that others may one day sit in their shade. A society becomes great not only through what it builds for the present, but through what it preserves for the future.
Written by Conor Weeks, a 24-year-old American currently living in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. He holds a master's degree in Chinese politics from Renmin University of China and now works in marketing for a Chinese technology company.
