In Focus: The road to green transformation for global sustainable development

In January 2023, the sun is heating the southern hemisphere in its summer, but some regions in Europe in the northern hemisphere are experiencing record-breaking temperature anomalies at the beginning of the new year in its winter. “It’s January, (but) it feels like summer,” said Spain’s Bilbao resident Eusebio Folgeira, 81.

Climate change is a common challenge facing mankind, and is a matter concerning the sustainable development of human beings. The current high level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has made the global temperature control goal of 1.5°C that human beings hope to achieve more and more out of reach. Extreme heatwaves, drought and devastating flooding have affected millions and cost billions this year, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Provisional State of the Global Climate in 2022 report. The large-scale and severe flood disasters that occurred in Pakistan have provided realistic evidence for this report.

Accelerated pace of green transformation is urgently needed for global sustainable development.

From the angle of realizing harmonious coexistence between man and nature, human society needs to re-examine and evaluate the harm brought about by the capitalist development model of traditional industrial civilization. As mentioned above, some harmful consequences are already present, happening right now; and others are hidden in the near future.

The economic growth and social development methods aiming at efficiency, harmony and sustainability are being vigorously promoted in China. This green development method is considered to be a positive and effective path to get rid of the shackles of traditional industrialization and enter the era of ecological civilization, and also an important measure for China’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

This month’s journal focuses on green development issues, and hopes to discuss with readers how to accelerate the green transformation of society and economy against the backdrop of climate change, and jointly build a “community with a shared future for mankind” and a “community of life on earth”.