The people living in the East are stealing a march on those in the West again, this time in terms of the environment. They are championing a greener earth in contrast to America speaking of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. China’s ecological civilization is particularly interesting because it seeks to achieve a ‘unity of opposites’ between the people of the earth and nature all around them.
How China’s Ecological Civilization Shapes its Climate Agenda
Pollution had enveloped China by 2007 to the extent that only 1% of her people had safe air by European standards. Moreover 500 million of them did not even have safe drinking water. The government knew it had to balance economic growth against the social unease protesting against these conditions.
It invented ‘China’s ecological civilization’ as an umbrella term expressing economic and environmental interests no longer being in competition. They were to move forward together in harmony instead. When the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China speaks, it generally gets it way. Once again, it uses the power of language to take the lead in electric vehicles and solar energy.
The New Climate Change Lexicon Taking Off in China
The Chinese government explains itself to its population in ways they understand. Hence, it does not use the language of international panel announcements when describing China’s ecological civilization. Instead, phrases like ‘green is gold’ and ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’ are appearing. We like that. We can relate to them too.
China has long understood the value of soft power, according to World Economic Forum. It is shaping a culture in which combating climate change has social value instead. China’s President Xi was on point when he spoke at the 2017 World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland:
“The Paris Agreement is a hard-won achievement,” he said. “All signatories should stick to it instead of walking away from it, as this is a responsibility we must assume for future generations”.
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Preview Image: Green is Gold, Grain Field in Evening Light
