Journey to a greener future

Trailblazer

China has excelled in this mechanism compared to Western countries in terms of real-time disclosure, even as the legalization process continued. In 2013, the nation began disclosing the density of pollutants like PM2.5 in an hourly fashion. A year later, thousands of key polluters were also mandated to report wastewater data every two hours and exhaust emissions hourly.

This groundbreaking step established China as a leader in real-time environmental information disclosure. When Ma presented this innovation to experts from the United States during an exchange program, it left them impressed.

"Recalling the one-sided nature of past exchanges, where Chinese counterparts eagerly absorbed knowledge about air and water pollution control, as well as judicial systems in the US, one expert said now they also need to learn from China," he recalled.

Such an information disclosure system has evolved into a public service that boosts China's green competitiveness globally, as it aids companies in selecting environmentally responsible suppliers, lowering costs in establishing green supply chains in China, Ma said.

He said the potential of information disclosure, as well as public participation, has also been effectively tapped in China's unique central environmental inspection, teams of which report to a central group headed by a vice-premier.

Under the inspection mechanism, teams headed by ministerial-level officials delve into grassroots areas to uncover environmental violations based on public complaints.

No matter where they go, they first make public various channels for reporting violations, Ma said. Violations they unearth and even the rectification process are all made public.

Moreover, he has found increasingly more countries turning to China for its experiences in successfully restoring clean air and blue skies over Beijing within just a decade.

In 2013, when Beijing started to monitor PM2.5, the annual average concentration of the particulate matter in the capital stood at 89.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Last year, however, the average density of the air pollutant had fallen to only 32 mcg/cubic m.

In recent years, Ma said, his organization has been engaging in exchanges about China's air pollution control experiences with stakeholders from countries including Mongolia, India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.

He mentioned that he and his colleagues have been traveling extensively, particularly since the second half of last year, either to take part in exchange programs or attend conferences focused on China's successful air pollution control strategy.

In another development, Chu Yangxi, an associate research professor at the Beijing-based Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, along with two other Chinese environmental experts, visited haze-plagued Lahore at the invitation of the government of the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province in January this year.

Local authorities extended their invitation to the trio, hoping to learn from China's remarkable success in air pollution control in Beijing, according to the scientist.

Having lived in China for more than 20 years, Dimitri de Boer, regional director for Asia at environmental law charity ClientEarth, commended China for its humble approach in assimilating international experiences and devising strategies tailored to its unique national circumstances.

"I think the Chinese government has always been very interested in learning from, sort of looking at what are the best approaches around the world very actively. There have been so many patient dialogues on these things.

"I think China has also developed its own ways to deal with its pollution, developing systems that are suitable for the Chinese context and characteristics," he said.

China, for example, now has specialized environmental courts and environmental public interest litigation by prosecutors. "That's very special. And there are very few other countries that have taken that approach... It's actually been very effective," he noted.

China now has more experience and technologies that are world-leading, he said, citing green technologies, electric vehicles, and solar and wind energy as examples.

More than four decades ago, China was only able to manufacture microturbines for off-grid power generation due to the lack of necessary technology and research and development capabilities.

In stark contrast, however, China has established the world's largest and full-fledged new energy industrial chain, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

The country provides 70 percent of the world's photovoltaic components and 60 percent of wind power equipment, it said. China's photovoltaic component production has ranked first in the world for 16 consecutive years.

As of the end of June, the combined installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power generation in China reached 1.18 million megawatts, exceeding that of coal-fired power.

It has become obvious in China that environmental protection has been integrated into economic development, De Boer said. "Previously, people talked about, 'Should we focus on the environment or the economy?' Now, that's not the case, with the environment and economy going hand in hand," he said.