What they say

China Daily | Updated: 2019-06-03 08:00

Consumption has become one of the major sources of environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Green consumption is a central component to fostering a green lifestyle and can effectively push behavior changes in the general public. China's green consumption policies pertinent to clothing, food, housing and transportation have achieved positive results, yet there is still room for improvement. And my key policy recommendations are first to identify the strategic positioning of promoting green consumption and then to integrate green consumption into the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and develop a national strategy to continue promoting green consumption.

Asa Romson, minister for climate and the environment of Sweden

The existing urbanization pattern formed in the traditional industrialization model needs to be reshaped on the basis of ecological civilization... so as to promote China's economic transformation and high-quality development through green urbanization. So recommendations are reshaping China's urbanization based on ecological civilization and no longer relying on quantitative urban expansion, and making green urbanization a driver for eco-friendly transformation of Chinese economy toward high-quality development.

Zhang Yongsheng, deputy director general of the Department of Development Strategy and Regional Economy of the Development Research Center of the State Council

The global climate governance is diversified with increasing uncertainties and challenges to achieve the Paris Agreement. China is facing new challenges for its climate leadership, but continues its economic transition efforts and international climate commitment. The 14th Five Year Plan (2021-25) is a key to achieve carbon peak. To face challenges, China needs to accelerate the decarbonization rate of the Chinese economy and set ambitious targets to enhance the country's leading role in global climate governance, strive to reach the carbon emissions peaking in key regions and key sectors by the end of the period, and incorporate non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emission control into the national GHG emission control system.

Wang Yi, vice-president of the Institutes of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Biodiversity declines have continued despite repeated policy commitments aimed at slowing or stopping the rate of loss. Over the past 20 years, global targets for biodiversity have not been fully achieved. As for China, it should put all efforts together to ensure full commitment of the international community, including world leaders. The country should also accelerate the pace of efforts for the "Green Belt and Road Initiative" both within and outside China, including strengthening International Green BRI Coalition announced at the 2019 BRI Forum. It is also important to integrate biodiversity conservation more effectively into China's efforts toward high quality development, especially into the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).