UNEP: Bright Moon partnership shows China's green aspirations

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) agency said Monday China is currently a strategic and significant player in the advancement of green transformation and sustainable development globally.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said China is well placed to help the world tackle a host of ecological challenges including climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and wildlife poaching.

"With often double digit growth, the future of the planet is in a significant way linked to the sustainable development ambitions of China now and in the future," said Steiner during the 2013 Bright Moon event held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The Bright Moon Action is supported by the Africa Regional Bureau of Xinhua News Agency, the UNEP and China Top Brands Magazine of Xinhua News Agency.

This initiative was formed in 2009 to showcase China's commitment to green economy and sustainable development ethos while raising public awareness on them through the media.

Greening the Chinese Dream was the theme of this year's Bright Moon Event and UN officials, senior executives of Chinese enterprises agreed that the Asian giant is on the threshold of an ecological transformation that will have ripple effects across the globe.

Steiner noted that China's phenomenal economic growth has impacted on the environment hence the need for innovative partnership between the government, industry and citizens to address this challenge.

"The Chinese government understands the environmental challenges better than anyone and we welcome the country's investments and policy directions in favor of a green economy and an ecological civilization," Steiner said.

Currently, the UNEP has partnered with several Chinese institutions to promote environmental sustainability in the country and the global south.

"UNEP has been working with the government of China in establishing a low carbon resource efficient green economy that will support sustainable development. It is the challenge of our century to have economic growth that decouples development from the use of increasingly scarce natural resources," Steiner noted.

He said the Asia Pacific region is currently a trailblazer in consumption of materials but China has demonstrated commitment to reverse the status through promoting ecosystems protection and renewable energy.

The UNEP chief said the media has a critical role to play in raising the visibility of green economy and sustainable development.

The UN agency has forged a vibrant partnership with Xinhua News Agency to raise awareness on environmental themes including ecosystems restoration, action on chemical waste, pollution, climate change and wildlife protection.

Likewise, the global environmental body has partnered with China to spearhead campaign against food waste that has posed serious health and environmental hazards in China and other emerging economies.

He added that China has taken a frontline in the campaign against wildlife poaching and plundering of natural resources in Africa.

Recently, the UNEP enlisted Chinese celebrities to raise awareness on slaughter of African elephants and rhinos as demand for ivory and horns rises in the newly rich societies of Asia.

The UNEP chief noted that the October Global South-South Expo to be hosted by the agency and China will offer an opportunity for countries to share knowledge, technologies and innovations that drive a green economy.

Senior executives of Chinese corporations told delegates attending the Bright Moon event that green consciousness has gained traction in the private sector as firms invest in technologies to reduce on their carbon and water footprint.