Guizhou grows ever greener during 13th Five-Year Plan period

Guizhou is focused on rebalancing its economic development with environmental protection and through efforts made during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), the southwestern province now has the country's most natural heritage sites – as well as forest coverage of 61.51 percent and high levels of air and water quality.

As a key ecological barrier on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and Pearl River, Guizhou has taken concerted measures to tackle climate change, protect its biodiversity and counteract desertification.

Meanwhile, Guizhou is giving full play to its environmental advantages and grasping the nettle with the development of the New International Land-Sea Corridor to create a green economy.

As a result, Guizhou has reportedly established a clean, low-carbon, safe and high-efficient energy ecosystem with 52.9 percent of clean energy – 8.1 percentage points higher than the national average.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the energy consumption of manufacturers in the province with annual revenue over 20 million yuan ($3.09 million) – a statistical benchmark – decreased by more than 25 percent, outperforming the national target of 18 percent.

Last year, Guizhou installed 15 million kilowatts of new energy capacity and it generated 78.93 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy, while the province also reduced 61.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

By restoring vegetation and rebalancing its ecological system, Guizhou has reportedly continued its drive to reverse its desertification, a program that has been recognized by the United Nations.

Centered on building a human community with a shared future, Guizhou has been acclaimed for establishing China's first national forum featuring ecological civilization – the Eco Forum Global – in 2009.

Currently, the forum has built up a communication network covering more than 120 universities, 700 enterprises and 200 media outlets, and is contributing to the green development of the Belt and Road Initiative.