After so many years of relying on fossil fuels for its fast economy development, I am glad to see China finally joins the battle of combating climate change. The country has set out a five-year plan to reduce carbon emission. China is planning to shift to a sustainable development path by shifting from a manufacturing based to a service based economy, reduce coal use, and employ non-fossil energy. Although the plan is only a broad approach, it is at least a good starting point.
In order to achieve its carbon emission reduction goals, the top government in China should first ensure its vision is shared by all levels of government. There should be a policy alignment across all governments, as well as specific metrics to measure the progress. Secondly, the governments should seek out effective ways to deliver the message to the general public because a real change can only be made by uniting the effort of its citizens. Lastly, the Chinese government should subsidize the use and development of renewable energy to help green start-ups secure the market. This should be done alongside with imposing an environmental cost on major polluters in the local economy.
To approach the environmental problems from the front-end, China needs to build the topic of sustainability into its education curriculum. It is very important to plant that “green” seed in the minds of younger generations because soon they will become the biggest consumers and suppliers of the global market. Only if they have a green mindset and are equipped with the knowledge of sustainability will they be able to design products and processes that are truly sustainable from the beginning. Furthermore, they have a chance to influence how their parents think and behave, as well as inspiring future generations. In all, education can help create a positive feedback loop in carrying out sustainable practices and end polluting behaviours for China.
Article Reference: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/chinas-unveils-plan-low-carbon-growth
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