China's environmental solutions

Abstract

China emits unproportionately high concentrations of CO₂ and, due to rapid population growth and industrialization, suffers from air, water, and soil pollution. However, many of these challenges for sustainable growth are being vigorously addressed, and China aims at a CO₂ emission peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 ("dual carbon policy"). In addition, nation-wide programs attempt to achieve reforestation and ecological restoration. By 2025, core elements of a "bioeconomy" and a circular economy are expected to be ready. Many of these programs extend into China's international "belt-and-road" initiative (BRI). In this article, we briefly describe the present achievements of China's environmental solutions and the country's visions for a "digital, eco-friendly civilization." KEY POINTS: • China's steps towards environmental cleaning, eco-protection, and decarbonization. • Steps towards a future bioeconomy.

Keywords: Bioeconomy; China’s emission controls; Decarbonization; Eco-restoration.

Fig. 1

Development of annual mean PM_2.5 concentrations over China from 2000 to 2020 according to the TAP database (Source: Geng et al. 2021)

Fig. 2

Water Quality improvement from 2016 to 2020 (Source: Ministry of Environment and Ecology, Water quality reports 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020)

Fig. 3

Timeline of the carbon and energy intensity of China’s economy (Source: Zheng et al. 2019)

Fig. 4

Share of China’s renewable and clean energies in global capacities (Data from BP 2022)

Fig. 5

Scheme of the “Beautiful China Initiative” (Source: Fang et al. 2020)