A report from China 2030, co-written by the State Council's Development Research Center and the World Bank says that China's current development model is not sustainable, but that green development is an opportunity and not just for economic growth, but also for better economic growth and could help China to develop a modern, harmonious, creative, high-income society.

Older patterns of economic growth have had bad economic, social and environmental consequences, so the Chinese government is now focusing on transformation for sustainable development. Green development is a form of sustainable development where economic growth is free from heavy emissions and resource consumption and environmental degradation. It tries to maintain a balance between economic growth, resource conservation and environmental improvement and involves a change in concepts, production patterns and consumption models that is different from the old fossil fuel, heavy resource consumption and heavy pollution.

Why green?

Green development is necessary for China. First, as the nation and the world change, the old western development model doesn't work for China for modernization. Second, the opportunities brought by green development can help move China into a more modern, harmonious, creative high-income world.

Strong points

China has certain strengths for promoting green development, in its leaders' political consensus on green development, an effective decision-making system, and functioning government abilities, which can play a role in the initial stage of green development. The transformative power of the government is the key to establishing a market economy.

Others strength include certain advantages in being backward, a large domestic market, capital and human resources, space for reform, rich new energy sources, and manufacturing ability.

Proposed reforms

Market incentives for green transformation

Cultivating green growth sources through reforms in traditional areas, expansion of emerging green industries, and expansion of emerging green service industries.

Improve environmental quality through greening, improve local government and regulations, and reduce effect of green development on certain departments and groups.