Former United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Erik Solheim recalled that over ten years ago, he was even concerned about jogging outdoors in Beijing due to smog. Today, according to him, he makes time for a morning run when he visits the city. He also noted that many vehicles on the streets are new electric cars, which he described as "quiet, pollution-free, and cost-effective." According to him, this demonstrates the results of China's approach to green development.
These visible changes are driven by a broader effort in China to promote environmental progress. On Saturday, China's Environmental Protection Law came into effect, which is intended to further strengthen the legal basis for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. It is the second formal code in the Chinese legal system after the Civil Code. For the first time, it enshrines Xi Jinping's ideas about ecological civilization into law.
Xi Jinping has previously stated that harmony between humanity and nature is a defining feature of China's modernization. He also described China as a staunch actor and significant contributor to global green development.
An important principle of China's environmental policy is the idea that "clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Xi Jinping first introduced this concept in 2005 during a visit to Yucun Village in Zhejiang Province. It has gradually become one of the fundamental principles of China's national strategy.
According to the text, China currently leads the world in the development of renewable energy sources. In 2025, the increase in new renewable energy capacity in China reached a record level, accounting for more than 60 percent of the global increase. According to the National Energy Administration, approximately 300 million kilowatts of new wind and solar power capacity were added this year, making renewable sources a significant force in green and low-carbon energy transformation.
American environmental economist Clifford Cobb stated that China has demonstrated over the past 20 years that it is possible to protect nature while also creating economic value. He believes that this is a model that the world can learn from. Egyptian architect and sustainability expert Salah Hagar emphasized that respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature are essential for human development anywhere in the world.
Over the past decade, China has strengthened environmental legislation, tightened its enforcement, and made progress in implementing environmental regulations. Ecological civilization has been enshrined in the constitution, the country has adopted a strict law on environmental protection, and it is addressing issues ranging from air and water pollution to noise pollution. At the same time, it has strengthened the protection of key and sensitive areas, including the Yangtze River and Yellow River, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and China's black soil region.
The central system of environmental inspections also plays a significant role, strengthening the responsibility of local authorities for environmental protection and helping to address long-standing regional problems.
The new Environmental Protection Law came into effect on China's fourth National Ecology Day. It consists of 1242 articles divided into five parts and includes, among other things, pollution control, ecological protection, and green, low-carbon development. It was created by systematically incorporating, revising, and refining more than 30 environmental laws, more than 100 administrative regulations, and more than 1000 local laws and ordinances.
The code emphasizes that a healthy ecological environment is the most universal form of public well-being. Its provisions on pollution prevention address not only traditional issues such as air and water pollution, but also new risks, including light pollution and electromagnetic radiation.
China's green vision also extends to international cooperation. In the Kazakh Akmola region, engineer Khasabay Kinlosan is involved in a project as part of China-Kazakhstan cooperation, maintaining more than 40 wind turbines daily. According to the text, these turbines generate over 800 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually and reduce carbon emissions by 650,000 tons.
Kazakh economist Almas Chukin stated that China has become a leader in solar and wind energy and is responding to global challenges such as climate change with actions, not just words.
According to the article, China supports low-carbon development and strengthens ecological capacities in more than 100 developing countries, particularly small island states and African nations. Through platforms such as the South-South Climate Cooperation Initiative or the Green Development Partnership under the Belt and Road Initiative, it shares technologies, development models, and sustainability experiences.
China has also contributed to global biodiversity conservation. In 2022, it hosted the COP15 conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity and helped facilitate the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Tanzanian expert Eliason K
aganga, who focuses on the protection of Lake Victoria, stated that President Xi Jinping's ideas about ecological civilization have theoretical value and have proven effective in practice. According to him, Chinese solutions, especially those involving local communities, bring long-term benefits to African countries and communities.
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