In China’s modernization process, green and low-carbon development stands out as an important strategic direction. President Xi Jinping has emphasized that “green development is the fundamental color of high-quality development,” highlighting that sustainable growth occupies a central place in China’s modernization model. At the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, it was stated that, in this direction, the improvement of the ecological governance system, the acceleration of green and low-carbon development, and the adoption of a development model in harmony with nature should be prioritized. In this context, promoting green development to ensure environmental sustainability is an integral part of China’s modernization process.
Green and low-carbon development is directly related to China’s sustainable development goals. With a population of over 1.4 billion, China cannot follow the Western modernization models exactly. As Xi Jinping pointed out, traditional growth models that are resource-intensive and environmentally polluting are not sustainable for China. Therefore, China is pursuing a development path that maintains a balance between ecological capacity and economic growth by investing in renewable energy, promoting industrial transformation, and implementing comprehensive reforms to achieve carbon neutrality targets.
Moreover, China’s green development strategy plays a significant role in global environmental governance. As one of the world leaders in renewable energy equipment production, China is contributing to the global energy transformation. Under the “Belt and Road Initiative,” international green collaborations are being developed, and low-carbon development is being integrated into global environmental policies. China’s green development model represents an approach that aims not only at economic growth but also at ecological sustainability.
In conclusion, promoting green and low-carbon development is a critical strategy for China to achieve its economic and ecological sustainability goals. Both in the context of national development objectives and global environmental governance, China’s low-carbon growth model can serve as an example for countries wishing to adopt an environmentally-friendly development path.