China's policymakers presented the country's practices to get rid of the choking smog covering its cities during the 2019 World Environment Day hosted by the country. The main event for the celebration was held in Hangzhou on June 5 and there were celebrations across multiple cities.
World Environment Day is the United Nations's biggest annual event for positive environmental action. The celebration encourages awareness and commitment to protecting the environment.
This year's celebration is themed "Beat Air Pollution". The event encourages people to explore renewable energy and green technologies, and improve air quality in cities and regions around the world.
China leads the globe in promoting clean air and in the advocacy for renewable energy. The Chinese government implemented many policies to support the cause. It encouraged the development of clean and renewable energy source in its industries.
In his letter, President Xi Jinping emphasized that we only have one Earth. He added that protecting the ecological environment and pushing sustainable development are our joint obligations.
He noted that countries are facing severe challenges including environmental pollution while the international community is actively pushing for the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The president stressed that the country is dedicated to environmental protection. He also said that China acts on the understanding that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and sought harmony between human and nature.
The President recognized the remarkable progress that China has made. In 2013, the Chinese government launched its toughest program against war pollution, the "Air Pollution Prevention, and Control Action Plan". After four years, huge progress was seen after the concentration of inhalable particles declined by 10% to 25% in large cities.
The government's effort continued with the three-year program that started in 2018. The harmful content in the air is reduced by 15 percent to 18 percent of 2015 levels because of measures like optimizing the industrial structure, developing green transport and strengthening regional coordination.
China prioritized the identification and control of contamination sources as part of China's nationwide air control strategy. China replaced some of its coal-fired power plants with other cleaner energy source including nuclear power, natural gas, and hydropower.
China also promoted the use of electric vehicles instead of fuel-powered cars. China wants to further increase the number of its electric vehicles by encouraging manufacturers to build affordable cars. China is the best choice as a host of this year's World Environment Day Celebration.
