During the 14th FYP period, China’s ecological civilization construction has achieved a historic leap under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-Civilization. With clearer guiding principles, related institutions have matured, leading to coordinated progress in carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion, and economic growth. These advances, alongside the accelerated formation of green productive forces, solid steps in building a “Beautiful China,” and a consolidated green foundation for high-quality development, have enabled China to contribute its solutions to global green transformation.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee has strengthened the top-level design of ecological civilization, fully implementing the Yangtze River Protection Law, Yellow River Protection Law, and Energy Law to elevate ecological conservation and energy governance to a new level.

Efforts have also been made to codify the environmental code, creating systematic, comprehensive, and efficient institutional arrangements that provide higher-level legal support for the comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society. Reforms to the ecological compensation system have been deepened, and both the river and lake chief system and the forest chief system have been fully implemented, integrating responsibilities, rights, and accountability.

Since the launch of the 14th FYP, China has intensified its campaigns to protect the blue sky, clear waters, and clean soil, while addressing emerging pollutants. Air, water, and soil quality has steadily improved, with public satisfaction exceeding 90% for four consecutive years. Notable progress has been made in land greening and the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which combats desertification in northwest, north, and northeast China, raising forest coverage to 25.09%. A national park-centered protected area system has been largely established, with systematic restoration of critical habitats supporting biodiversity recovery. Currently, 90% of terrestrial ecosystem types and 74% of key protected wildlife species are under effective conservation, while the national ecological conservation redline now covers over 30% of China’s land area.

By developing new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, China has built the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. As of the first quarter of 2025, installed capacity of wind and solar power reached 1.482 billion kilowatts, surpassing the 1.451 billion kilowatts of thermal power for the first time, and achieving the country’s 2030 nationally determined contribution target six years early. New energy vehicle production and sales accounted for over 70% of the global total, maintaining China’s leadership for 10 consecutive years.

At a time when many multilateral frameworks face challenges, China has announced its new 2035 nationally determined contribution target, setting an example as other countries adjust climate policies. Through high-standard commitments and high-quality actions, China is providing direction and benchmarks for green transition worldwide, injecting certainty and new momentum into global climate governance.

Zhuang Guiyang is a research fellow and deputy director general of the Research Institute for Eco-civilization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.