Sino-US equation on environment
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 1, 2017
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) waters a sapling as he attends a tree planting activity in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2017. China's top leaders Xi Jinping, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli visited east Beijing and planted saplings of different types of trees on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) |
Two important, but starkly different initiatives by the leaders of China and the United States help us understand their respective commitments towards a greener future and safer environment for coming generations.
First, President Donald Trump on March 28 signed an executive order to reverse the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama. However, environmentalists have criticized the Energy Independence Executive Order, which, according to Mr. Trump, will help to revive the American economy and create jobs by removing restrictions on use of traditional sources of energy.
In his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump termed the issue of climate change as a "hoax." He also expressed doubts about the historic Paris climate change agreement of 2015, even threatening to pull out of the deal. The threat is not over as, according to his officials, this is still under discussion.
Mr. Trump's provocative anti-environment steps resonated differently thousands of kilometers away in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping took part in a plantation drive and also urged his people follow his lead and plant more trees. Xi visited Beijing's Chaoyang District and planted different saplings while interacting with youth and stressing the importance of afforestation.
"Planting trees now will benefit our future generations, and we should roll up our sleeves to plant more trees year after year, generation after generation," he said in promoting education for green development.
It is not for the first time for Xi to get involved. He has been planting trees since 2013 and motivating people to become part of the drive. And, this is not just that because he is also highlighting the importance of clean environment at international meetings.
Addressing the G20 leaders in Hangzhou last September, he said: "Green mountains and clear waters are as good as mountains of gold and silver. To protect the environment is to protect the productivity and to improve the environment is boost productivity."
Earlier, China also pledged itself to creating a clean environment, having already ratified the Paris agreement. The commitment by China, with its considerable share of global pollution, is of huge importance for environmental protection. Not only China, but also India and the EU have pledged to adhere to the Paris understanding; thus, President Trump will find himself on the wrong side of history if he reneges on the U.S. promise to uphold it.
Apparently, the priorities of top leadership in China and United States are not the same when it comes to the protection of a green future for the world or the issue of globalization. While China is symbolically standing up for a greener planet, the new American leadership has no qualm in rejecting the collective wisdom and will of its people.
Mr. Trump by focusing on populism is not doing any service to his people and the world. As matter of policy, he should beware throwing away the pro-environment decisions made by the past administrations.
Being a powerful country, none in the world can hold the U.S. accountable; but imagine the smog and choking pollution in the urban centers as result of unmitigated use of fossil fuels, especially coal!
The impact of environmental change has become a reality sooner than expected. There are several places on the planet where people would tell you about the changing pattern of weather and rain cycles. Crops and pastures have become vulnerable to unpredictable weather systems. It directly impacts wildlife and humans dependent on vegetation.
It is time to move forward. Technology is at hand to help us develop cleaner sources of energy, like solar and wind power, that are reusable and do not add to the killing pollution.
Instead of threatening to undo the gains of Paris agreement, the Trump administration should adopt innovative ways to meet the energy needs of the country. Since the Obama-era rules aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emission from coal-fired plants, the new law has lifted a ban on coal leasing on public lands. Only coal-miners should be happy by such a misstep.
Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
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