April 22 marks the 57th Earth Day, a moment that underscores a pressing global question: how can humanity better protect the only home planet it shares?

Five years ago, on the same date, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Leaders Summit on Climate via video link, where he systematically articulated the vision of a community of life for man and nature.

"Faced with unprecedented challenges in global environmental governance, the international community needs to come up with unprecedented ambition and action. We need to act with a sense of responsibility and unity, and work together to foster a community of life for man and nature," said Xi.

Today, the vision is increasingly reflected in tangible outcomes: from desert greening and species recovery to international cooperation and green technology exports, China is not only advancing its goal of building a "Beautiful China," but also contributing to a broader global effort to safeguard the planet for future generations.

A 'Beautiful China' taking shape

China has designated this year's Earth Day theme as "Cherish Natural Resources and Protect a Beautiful China," highlighting a nationwide push toward ecological restoration and green transformation.

Across the country, grassroots efforts are reshaping fragile ecosystems. In Minqin County on the western edge of the Tengger Desert, Gansu Province, volunteers have joined local residents to plant trees, forming green belts to halt desert expansion. This long-running Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, dubbed the "Great Green Wall" last October won the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Award for Achievement for its outstanding contributions to agricultural production, food security, poverty alleviation and income growth.

In coastal Sanya, Hainan Province, a team of divers regularly removes marine debris from the seabed around Wuzhizhou Island, clearing more than 10 tonnes of waste annually. The city, along with Hangzhou and Suzhou, was recently included in a UN initiative recognizing "20 Cities Towards Zero Waste."

The results of sustained ecological protection are increasingly visible. Over the past decade, the population of the Yangtze finless porpoise has rebounded to around 1,400. On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope population has recovered to over 300,000.

Institutionally, China has taken further steps. In March 2026, lawmakers adopted the Ecological and Environmental Code, a comprehensive legal framework consolidating decades of environmental governance experience. The code underscores that the strictest regulations and legal safeguards are essential for advancing ecological civilization.

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Dimitri de Boer, director for China at ClientEarth, pointed out that China's firm push for environmental rule of law stems from strong determination and a profound aspiration for a greener future. He added that while the code is rooted in China's domestic context, its governance approach is likely to set the tone for environmental development pathways in other parts of the world.

Looking ahead, China has set binding targets under its 15th Five Year Plan (2026-2030) with the goals of cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 17% from the 2025 level and lifting the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to 25% by 2030.

According to Clifford Cobb, vice president of the US Institute for Postmodern Development of China, China's sustained policy implementation and measurable outcomes are increasingly seen as a global reference. Under Xi's leadership, China's green development offers new pathways and models for global ecological governance, he said.

A major country stepping up global responsibility

China's environmental efforts extend well beyond its borders. Emphasizing multilateralism, Xi has repeatedly called for closer international cooperation to promote green, low-carbon, and sustainable development.

On climate change, China has continued to raise its commitments. In a 2025 address to UN Climate Summit, Xi announced that by 2035, China aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 10% from peak levels.

As a key driver of the Paris Agreement, China has played a pivotal role in advancing clean energy worldwide. China supplies 70% of the world's wind power equipment and 80% of photovoltaic panels, and helps to reduce the average cost of global wind power and photovoltaic power by 60% and 80%. Last year, China's exports of wind power equipment grew by nearly 50%.

Through South-South cooperation, China has signed 54 climate cooperation agreements with 42 countries and mobilized over 177 billion yuan (about $24 billion) in funding over the past decade to support developing nations.

Concrete projects illustrate this collaboration. In Ethiopia, Chinese water-saving irrigation and desert control technologies have supported the country's "Green Legacy Initiative," reducing soil erosion and boosting agricultural productivity. In Fiji, Juncao technology, is being used to stabilize riverbanks, while in Brazil, the Belo Monte ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission project, jointly developed by Chinese and Brazilian partners, has helped address the long-distance transmission and consumption of clean hydropower from the Amazon basin. 

Ethiopian Ambassador to China Tefera Derbew Yimam noted that China's approach including integrating environmental protection into economic planning, investing in green technologies and mobilizing public participation, offers valuable lessons for other nations.

Beyond climate action, China has stepped up efforts to safeguard global biodiversity. The country set Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support biodiversity conservation in developing countries, helped facilitate the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and initiated the establishment of the International Mangrove Center. China is also among the first parties to the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

Thailand-based conservation expert Patcharapa Manopawit said China's leadership in biodiversity protection is inspiring other countries to move forward collectively.