China is currently vigorously pushing forward ecological protection, laying emphasis on the development of green, circular and low-carbon development. China’s President Xi Jinping laid out a series of important decisions and arrangements on ecological conservation, and put forward the concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. The green development was thus incorporated into the national strategy.

 

Green development requires the involvement of people from all walks of life. Faced with such a daunting task, we need to shift both our minds and actions to truly respect, adapt to and protect natural environment. We should lay equal focus on economic development and environmental protection, adhere to the path of green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable development, and strive towards the goal of harmonious coexistence of the humanity, nature and society.

 

As an important social force engaging in environmental protection efforts, the NGOs in this area play a role that can’t be replaced by administrative agencies. Following China’s environmental policies, Chinese NGOs specializing in environmental protection have been working tirelessly to contribute ideas and advice to the state for many years. These NGOs, as the third party, have complemented government’s role in environmental protection and ecological preservation, making contribution to China’s economic and social development by helping promote green development.

 

Certified by the State Council, All-China Environment Federation is a national organization registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs and under the administration of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Federation promotes the environmental protection of China and of the world at large by functioning as a link between the government and the society. We’ve joined hands with other environmental NGOs in making concrete efforts to facilitate green development.

 

First, we establish effective platforms for communication and exchanges so that the general public can get involved. With the aim of beefing up ecological preservation, advocating the concept of “Green +”, and helping improve the quality of the environment, we provide counseling and service to the general public and businesses on environmental issues which pose a threat to people’s health. At the first half of this year, All-China Environment Federation established Atmospheric Environment Coordinated Development Center jointly with relevant universities, research institutes, industrial funds, businesses and the People’s Government of Xuzhou City. The Center focuses on the prevention and comprehensive treatment of atmospheric, water and soil pollution by providing a service platform for environmental control system combining the functions of industrial output, academic research & development, practical use, commercial function, and financing jointly governed by the government, business and society.

 

Second, we safeguard people’s rights in environmental protection and provide legal assistance. For many years, All-China Environment Federation offers legal assistance to those who have suffered severe health problems due to environmental pollution. We help safeguard people’s rights in this regard by conducting research, offering mediation, providing legal advice and launching lawsuits, facilitating enterprises’ transition to green development.

 

Dezhou Intermediate People’s Court gave the verdict of the first trial on the air pollution responsibility case filed by the All-China Environment Federation against Zhenhua Co., Ltd. of Dezhou Jinghua Group on July 20, 2016. The Court ruled that Zhenhua Co., Ltd. shall pay the damage of RMB 21,983,600 for unregulated emissions of pollutants to pay for the improvement efforts of air quality in Dezhou City. The Court also demanded the company to make a public apology in a provincial-level media outlet. It was the first case of public interest litigation concerning the air pollution in China after the Amendment to Law on Environmental Protection came into effect.

 

Third, we organize international conferences to offer advice for the government. We host seminars and forums to discuss the difficulties and issues of common interest in this regard and submit the results of the discussions to competent government agencies so as to provide reference to our country’s decision-making process. In recent years, All-China Environment Federation launched rubbish classification campaign at the community level, host forums and seminars on this topic and submit a proposal to the Two Sessions (the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference). We’re quite happy to learn these days that the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development promulgated the Regulation on Compulsory Classification of Rubbish (Draft for Public Discussion). 

 

Fourth, we carry out international exchanges and cooperation to enhance mutual friendship. We organize research on Chinese environmental NGOs, establish extensive links and contacts with environmental NGOs home and broad, raise fund through various channels, and enhance capacity building for NGOs and help them assume their due positions globally. In addition, we organize and participate in bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation on environmental protection. These efforts have enhanced friendship and cooperation.

 

Fifth, we support technological innovation to boost green development. In light of the business needs for acquiring knowledge and applying technologies in this regard, we invite some experts and scholars to offer guidance in research tours to enterprises, promoting the technological innovation and wide use of renewable energies among these enterprises. As a result, a number of talents in environmental innovation and enterprises adept at applying advanced technologies have emerged, injecting impetus to the green development of China.

 

In spite of our efforts, it is undeniable that environmental problems with global impact are getting increasingly serious with the rapid economic and social development. In addition to regional environmental pollution and massive ecological damage, problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, reduction in bio-diversity, air pollution, water pollution and transboundary movement of hazardous wastes are posing a severe damage to the very survival and development of the humanity. We still face daunting tasks in providing solutions to these development challenges in the future.

 

Our suggestions are as follows: improve the legal, policy-making, standards-setting and market system; optimize the allocation of public environment resources, call on government to offer more financial support and help create a more enabling atmosphere for the development of environmental NGOs, and fully utilize these NGOs’ capabilities in reaching out to more people in environmental protection efforts so as to gather public support for the green development; environmental NGOs should enhance capacity building, expand their own influence, work in a more innovative and professional manner while improving their skills and managerial expertise, organize a wide variety of public events, put themselves in the right position by playing their rightful roles in the activities they are good at, and help promote the green and sustainable development; these NGOs should further deepen and expand international cooperation by participating in global affairs in a more flexible and in-depth manner from the people-to-people perspective to attract best and brightest people across the globe to contribute their wisdom and ideas to the green development of China and world at large.

 

To sum up, the government, organizations and individuals should play their respective roles in implementing the concept of harmonious co-existence between man and nature and promoting green development, with NGOs playing a more active role.

 

Currently, the green manufacturing, a modern manufacturing mode balancing the environmental effect and resources efficiency, is an integral part of green development and an important means in environmental upgrading in industrial production. We will take this as the opportunity to improve environment quality, advocate for green manufacturing, and promote green development. We are planning to establish a federation promoting green manufacturing together with relevant organizations to push forward the implementation, practice and products of green manufacturing, and comprehensively implement the concept of green development. By doing so, we contribute to the ecological preservation and building a beautiful China. 

 

It is our common responsibility to protect the environment. We are looking forward to joining hands with people from all walks of life to make our due contribution to the green development of the humanity.

 

(The author is Secretary General of the All-China Environment Federation.)