Don’t sacrifice environment for GDP

Pursuing GDP growth at the sake of the environment only creates temporary benefits, but will backfire in the long run, says an article on The Crystal, a newspaper based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Excerpts:

The report of the ongoing 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has placed much emphasis on environmental protection, with ecological objectives included for the first time in the top agenda of the CPC, along with economic, political, cultural and social topics.

CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao’s remarks on “reversing the trend of ecological deterioration and building a beautiful China” have drawn wide attention around the country.

The report indicates that ecological projects relate to people’s livelihood and the future of the country.

As social progress advances, environmental challenges become more severe as there are often cases where GDP growth has been achieved at the expense of environmental damages and ecological degradation.

In the last couple of years, public protests against environmentally damaging industrial projects have demonstrated Chinese people’s rising environmental awareness, and also revealed some local governments’ negligence in the residents’ eyes, as well as calls for a sustainable development model.

Though authorities and local residents both want to safeguard the environment, in practice, local leaders need to effectively follow the guidelines from the central government and fully respect people’s will.

In Shenzhen, the concepts of green economy and low-carbon technology have been integrated into the city’s strategic development plans. Energy and water consumption per unit of GDP and land for construction in Shenzhen now all stand at the lowest levels compared with other cities in China. Shenzhen has been successful in boosting growth with minimal environmental costs.

Economic growth and environmental protection are not necessarily mutually exclusive when the objective is achieving a green economy and sustainable development.