Spotlight: Global environment assembly honor China's pragmatism to rejuvenate green agenda

NAIROBI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The just concluded fourth session of the UN environment Assembly recognized CHINA's pragmatic approach toward hastening ecological renewal amid rapid industrial progress.

Senior UN officials and experts acknowledged that CHINA has raised the bar in environmental protection as evidenced by improved air and water quality in major cities, besides global stewardship in green energy.

Joyce Msuya, the acting executive director of UN environment Programme, hailed pragmatic choices CHINA has adopted in recent times to restore health of natural habitats against a backdrop of phenomenal economic growth.

"CHINA has a lot to offer in terms of lessons for example on how the government set up policies to address the issue of pollution. The direction the Chinese government is taking on reassessing sources of energy is positive," Msuya told Xinhua.

Kenya hosted the fourth edition of the global environment assembly that was attended by more than 4,700 delegates including presidents, ministers, industry executives, scientists and innovators.

The March 11 to 15 assembly whose theme was "Innovative solutions for environmental challenges: sustainable production and consumption" adopted sweeping resolutions to revitalize the global green agenda.

CHINA's environmental stewardship was felt prior to the assembly when a report indicating drastic improvement in the capital Beijing's air quality for the last two decades was laUNched.

"This improvement in air quality did not happen by accident. It was as a result of an enormous investment of time, resources and political will," said Msuya at the laUNch of the report titled Review of 20 years' Air Pollution Control in Beijing.

"UNderstanding Beijing's air pollution story is crucial for any nation, district or mUNicipality that wishes to follow a similar path," she added.

CHINA's success in restoration of urban rivers as revealed in a publication jointly authored by the UN Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat) and Tongji UNiversity, was recognized at the UN environment assembly.

"I applaud the efforts of the Government of People's Republic of CHINA in developing technical, managerial and financial solutions to improve the water quality of urban rivers," said MaimUNah Mohd Sharif, UN Habitat executive director.

Luis Alfonso de Alba, special envoy for the 2019 climate summit to be held in September in New York, said that CHINA is in the frontline of advancing the global green agenda.

"I'm happy CHINA has assumed greater responsibility in promotion of climate resilience. CHINA has also agreed to green the Belt and Road projects," said Luis.

He revealed that CHINA has agreed to play a major role in the September climate summit that is expected to come up with a new road map for low carbon development.

Experts who attended a science policy business forum that took place ahead of the UN environment assembly also hailed CHINA's clean technology revolution whose positive ripple effects have been felt across the globe.

Mohua Mukherjee, an energy and climate finance expert at the International Solar Alliance said that developing coUNtries have benefited from cheaper but high quality technologies from CHINA to facilitate uptake of green energy.

"CHINA is a leader in production of solar panels that have revolutionized access to clean energy among households in low income coUNtries in Africa, Asia and Latin America," said Mohua.

She lauded CHINA for promoting knowledge sharing and technology transfer on renewable energy through South-South cooperation.

The signing of an agreement between UNEP and CHINA's electric motorbike firm, TAILG Group at the UN environmental assembly was a confirmation the Asian coUNtry will be an influential player in the switch to clean mobility.

David Rubia, project manager in charge of electric mobility at UNEP said the entry of TAILG into the east African market will UNleash new jobs for the youth and tackle traffic congestion that is to blame for rampant air pollution.

"Our partnership with TAILG marked a giant step in clean mobility across the region. We look forward to emissions reduction and employment for the youth," said Rubia.