(Source: China International Television 2024-9-13)
On September 13, 2024, Professor Yang Hangjun, Vice Dean of the w88 casino of International Economics and w88 of the w88 casino, accepted a live interview on the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin by China International Television's "Global Business" column. The following is the content of the interview:
Moderator: President Xi Jinping called for continuous improvement of the overall framework for ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin. What does China mean by the integrity of ecological protection? How does it compare to other ecological conservation frameworks in the world?
Yang Hangjun: The holistic concept of ecological protection advocated by President Xi emphasizes treating the entire ecosystem as an interrelated complex, comprehensively considering water resources, biodiversity, land use, air quality and their impact on local socio-economics, rather than solving a single problem in isolation. Taking the Yellow River Basin as an example, the key is to coordinate pollution management, ecological protection and rational utilization of resources among various provinces and departments, aiming to ensure the sustainable development and ecological resilience of the Yellow River Basin. Compared with this, other ecological protection frameworks around the world tend to exhibit more fragmented characteristics. For example, in the European Union or North America, ecological protection work is often carried out based on specific projects, relying on specialized environmental laws and institutions to deal with specific issues such as air pollution control and endangered species protection. The systematic strategy adopted by China focuses on implementing large-scale ecological restoration projects, such as actively restoring forest and wetland ecosystems while meeting the needs of economic development, so as to maintain the overall ecological balance and promote stable economic development.
Moderator: President Xi Jinping also emphasized accelerating the upgrading of ultra-low emissions in key areas and vigorously promoting the clean and efficient use of coal. Which key areas do you foresee achieving ultra-low emissions? What technological and policy measures will likely accelerate the achievement of ultra-low emissions?
Yang Hangjun: The key areas expected to accelerate the transition to ultra-low emissions include: First, the power generation industry, especially traditional coal-fired power generation. Greater adoption of renewable energy sources (e.g. solar, wind, hydro) will significantly reduce emissions. Secondly, the transportation sector. Accelerate the transition from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy vehicles, including new energy cars, buses and trucks. Third, steel and cement manufacturing. Steel production, for example, uses new technologies such as electric arc furnaces, which use electricity rather than coal to melt scrap steel, thereby significantly reducing emissions. Fourth, petrochemical industry. Cleaner processes and tighter emissions controls will significantly reduce emissions.
There are many technological and policy measures to promote ultra-low emissions, to name just a few: First, the widespread adoption of new energy vehicles and electromechanical equipment reduces direct emissions from internal combustion engines. Second, carbon capture, utilization and storage technology is critical for carbon capture in multiple industries, especially the power generation, cement and steel industries. In addition, my country’s national carbon trading market provides economic incentives for industries to reduce emissions by pricing carbon. Finally, the government will promote investment in clean technology and ultra-low emission industries through fiscal subsidies and green finance.
Moderator: President Xi Jinping called for exploring the establishment of a market-oriented and diversified ecological protection compensation mechanism for the entire Yellow River basin. Please talk about the thinking behind this compensation mechanism and how it will support ecological protection?
Yang Hangjun: This compensation mechanism is based on the recognition that economic incentives are crucial to promoting a sustainable environment. First, the Yellow River flows through multiple provinces, each with its own ecological challenges and economic priorities. The basin-wide compensation mechanism can ensure the coordination of ecological work in various regions and solve the interconnected problems of the Yellow River Basin ecosystem. Secondly, by introducing market mechanisms such as carbon trading and ecological credits, it aims to provide economic incentives for entities to participate in conservation activities. This translates ecological benefits into economic value, encouraging greater public and private sector participation. Third, the mechanism recognizes that no one entity can address ecological challenges alone and therefore engages different stakeholders, including all levels of government, business and the public. This collaborative approach leverages a variety of resources and expertise. Fourth, regions and enterprises that have made significant contributions to conservation efforts may be compensated through fiscal transfers, tax incentives, subsidies, or other forms of financial support. For example, it can balance the interests of the upper and lower reaches of the Yellow River and ensure that the upstream areas, which often bear greater protection responsibilities, receive fair and reasonable compensation from downstream beneficiaries.
