Green is the most distinctive underpinning of contemporary China’s development. Green development was first written into China’s five-year plan during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) period, and the outline of the 14th Five-year Plan (2021-2025) once again emphasized the strategic position of green development in China’s overall modernization drive.

According to the “14th Five-Year” (2021-2025) Plan and the outline of the long-term goals for 2035, China will push green development and promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature. By 2025, new progress will be made in building an ecological civilization, and the ecological environment will continue to be improved. By 2035, the ecological environment will be fundamentally improved, and the goal of building a beautiful China will be basically attained.

At the same time, China will strive to reach a carbon peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This is a long and arduous task.

During the “14th Five-Year” Plan period, how will we achieve all-round green transformation in economic and social development?

Professor ZHU Dajian from Tongji SEM has shared his thoughts on China’s green economy, green development and circular economy based on his years of theoretical research on sustainable development.