Opinion: Expo 2019 Beijing, the greener, the better

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Editor's note: Wu Changhua is the Executive Director of Professional Association for China's Environment. The article reflects the author's views, and not necessarily those of CGTN.

A new countdown has begun. In nearly 100 days, Beijing will welcome exhibitors and visitors from around the world for the 2019 International Horticultural Exhibitions (Expo 2019 Beijing). With the theme of “Live Green, Live Better”, Expo 2019 Beijing is expected to showcase how important the harmony between mankind and nature is, promote environmentally friendly lifestyles, and boost people's belief and commitment to sustainability.

Large exhibitions like this often try to engage, educate and influence society towards positive change. At a time when the biological foundation for human survival and development has been and is being shaken and the ecological integrity is hugely comprised, Expo 2019 Beijing is expected to deliver much more than its usual impact and value.

Environmental volunteers clean up trash on beaches in Guangzhou, south China, May 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

From April 29 to October 7, the Chinese capital city has six months to demonstrate the effort, progress, innovation in technology and design by China and other participating countries and cities, and showcase the incentives and sustainable models that have enabled those achievements. It also offers a great platform to share and discuss how to link efforts to advance innovation and actions.

What specifically can China share with global community?

Respect for ecological integrity is now being adopted as a core value of the country that is being used to guide future development. Ecological civilization - a the term used by China - has become a common and popular phrase that puts into perspective how human beings are an integral part of the ecosystems and how they depend on Mother Nature for health and happiness.

China emphasizes three key factors in advancing ecological civilization.

- Ecological redlines or boundaries alert us that human development is constrained by ecosystems' capacity to provide goods and services;

- Pricing natural capitals is a key step to take due to limits and scarcity;

- Ecological compensation emphasizes fairness among different regions so that less developed regions can choose a different pathway that respects their ecological integrity.

Zheng Xinli, executive vice-president of the China Urban-townization Promotion Council, delivers a speech on promoting international cooperation in the field of green sustainable development. /CGTN Photo

Very importantly, China is also stepping up its role in global environmental governance and aims to lead by action in tackling climate change and contributing to a constructive global process that ensures continued commitment to protecting environmental integrity worldwide.

If we compare the two COPs on climate change - Copenhagen in 2009 and Paris in 2015 - China's contribution cannot be neglected, in particular by investing in renewable energy development that has dramatically reduced the cost of new energy technologies for global scaling. That has boosted global confidence in accelerating a clean energy revolution and effectively addressing climate change risks.

Winning the “declared war on pollution” is a specific target for 2020. Overwhelmed by smog that threatens public health, the government has taken some dramatic effort to reduce reliance on coal and the emissions of pollutants.

City air quality, measured by ambient concentration of PM2.5, is now monitored and reported on hourly basis via social media. Such information disclosure enhances transparency as well as public awareness and participation in protecting the environment.

Water governance reform enables the establishment of an infrastructure of river and lake chiefs that have local government officials liable for water quality and water environment.

By making environmental legislations tougher, laws and regulations and their stronger enforcement empower the society to drive actions and find solutions for better environmental quality.

Participants pose for a picture during the final session of the COP24 summit on climate change in Katowice, Poland, December 14, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Riding on the wave of the 4th industrial revolution, more than 600 cities in China are advancing a smart city agenda. Digitalization, AI, Cloud and 3D printing technology are vastly increasing the efficiency and productivity of our energy, water, and material flows.

Those technologies are also transforming how we manufacture products and how we manage various systems that respect ecological integrity and create net positive value to the environment.

Expo 2019 Beijing is also expected to provide more insight into how Mother Nature works. Such insights are particularly important today because recovery of ecological integrity relies on the knowledge and information to guide those efforts. Ecological civilization cannot possibly be achieved without full respect of Nature.

As we all know, our ecological security is under tremendous risk. Four out of the nine "planetary life-support systems" face an ecological redline warning. China and many other countries, though having committed to sustainable development goals, have to figure out a clear pathway towards a sustainable future.

The Expo 2019 Beijing will be an open house, school or lab that will accommodate a large number of people from different part of the world, old and young, so they can see, learn, share and act together for a much more sustainable future.

Beijing has opened its arms and welcomes you. Come and become part of the solution and revolution.

(Top Image: 2019 International Horticultural Expo's China Pavilion, January 8, 2019. /VCG Photo)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, contact us at opinions@cgtn.com)