CHINA> Official Publication
White paper: China's policies and actions on climate change
(China.org.cn)
Updated: 2008-10-29 10:36

VI. Enhancing Public Awareness in Addressing Climate Change

China has all along attached great importance to education and public-ity concerning the environment and climate change, as well as public participation in relevant activities. In recent years, the government has constantly guided the public in enhancing its awareness of climate change, and advocated the concept of harmonious development between man and Nature through publicizing and implementing such advanced ideas as the Scientific Outlook on Development, establishing a harmonious society and sticking to the sustainable development road. The Politburo of the Communist Party of China particularly held a study session on global climate change and enhancement of the capability to cope with it. It stresses on vigorous enhancement of public awareness and capability in participation of addressing of climate change, and on the building of a good social atmosphere to this end. The state makes the concept of building a resource-saving and environmental-friendly society an important component of school education and the mass media, and disseminates knowledge about climate change by all ways and means to sharpen the concern of the whole society about global environmental issues.

China has produced large numbers of publications and audio-video products on climate change, set up dedicated TV weather channel and an information database to disseminate knowledge about climate change through the mass media. It has held the "International Forum on Climate Change and Science & Technology Innovation," and hosted many large-scale international seminars with topics such as "Climate Change and Ecosystems" and "Bio-diversity and Climate Change." Since 1992, China has staged 18 sessions of National Energy Conservation Publicity Week in succession. The Chinese government issued the Public Action Plan on Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, carried out relevant activities throughout the country, with the participation of communities, young people, enterprises, schools, servicemen, government agencies, scientific and technological circles, popular science circles, and the mass media. As a result, a mechanism of energy conservation and emission reduction has been formed with the government taking the lead, enterprises as actors and everyone as participant. China fully utilizes the exemplary roles of government agencies and officials through a campaign to establish a "conservation-minded government." It carries out publicity and education of energy conservation and emission reduction in enterprises, mobilizes employees to participate in the management of energy conservation and emission reduction in enterprises. It encourages citizens to re-mold lifestyles and consumption patterns in their families, creates a platform for energy conservation and emission reduction in communities. It actively encourages citizens and social groups to plant trees voluntarily, and launches actions like restricting free use of plastic bags by charging fees so as to enhance their awareness of energy conservation and emission reduction. It fosters students' awareness of the importance of energy conservation and emission reduction through school education and practical activities. In recent years, many social groups and NGOs have participated in the campaign for energy conservation and emission reduction in various ways and played an active role.

Recycling economy represents the future trend of economic development. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of a recycling economy, and advocates such economy throughout the country. In recent years, with vigorous development of the recycling economy as focus, the government has launched a series of educational and publicity activities in order to root the idea of a re-cycling economy deeply in the people's minds and create a sound social atmosphere.

China will further enhance education and training in order to better deal with climate change. Knowledge about climate change will be included in basic education, higher education and adult education, with the focus being place on fostering among youngsters the awareness of climate change and a sense of participation in relevant activities. It will conduct training courses and seminars on climate change for government agencies, enterprises, consultation institutes, scientific research staff and communities, so as to improve their understanding of the importance and urgency in dealing with climate change, and encourage them to undertake their social responsibilities in an active manner.