2020 Goals

China's international trade and capital flows become a driving force in reducing the global ecological footprint.
China's domestic economic policy measures ensure clean, sustainable and resource efficient economic development.

Facts & Figures

China is the largest carbon emitter in the world, followed by the US and the EU.
On average, every Chinese citizen produces 4.58 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, compared to 19.1 tonnes for Americans and 7.9 tonnes for Europeans.
China is the world's leading renewable energy producer in terms of installed generating capacity.
China is the world’s largest solar PV manufacturer and has more than 60% of the globe’s solar water heaters.
About 40% of China's $586 billion economic stimulus package will go towards green investements.

China for a Global Shift

As China's economy continues to grow from domestic and international demand, more pressure is placed on the planet's resources. WWF is working with China to ensure that the country's development goes hand-in-hand with long-term sustainability and environmental protection.

China's Yangtze River has served as a transportation and commercial thoroughfare for centuries.

China has the opportunity to lead in a new direction by creating a development model that sustains natural systems, within the country and abroad, upon which all life depends.

James P. Leape, Director-General, WWF International

What WWF is doing

Active in the country since 1980, WWF was the first international conservation organization invited to work in China.

Communications contact

Claudia Delpero

WWF China Programme Office,
Beijing +861065116227

Email Claudia

A shift to sustainability

Shifting China's development towards a more sustainable direction is key to reducing pressure on the environment.

With the acceleration of globalization, industrialization and urbanization, China’s production and consumption patterns are putting at risk the country’s as well as the world's ecosystems.

We live in a world where resources are limited and we are increasingly depleting them. Because of its size, growth and the opportunities it offers, a global change towards greener development is possible only if China is on board.

Taking the lead

China is in a strong position to become a global leader in sustainable development solutions.

WWF is working with China to promote sustainable international capital and trade flows between China and the rest of the world.

The overall goal is to facilitate the creation of a global model that places sustainability criteria at the centre of economic decision-making processes.

Focusing on key sectors, such as energy production, forestry and finance, WWF can support China in its efforts to achieve ambitious development goals while reducing its environmental impacts and protecting important ecosystems worldwide by:

Building political support to reduce the ecological footprint
Supporting sustainable finance
Driving responsible trade
Mainstreaming innovation and product efficiency

A wind generator used to provide electricity for the WWF-funded Yangchai Lake Management Station, Lake Hong, China.

Wood saving stove.

China's ecological footprint

According to the Report on China's Ecological Footprint – commissioned by WWF and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) – China is consuming more than twice as much as its ecosystems can sustainably provide.

As China's economy continues to grow, it will be critically important to find ways to lighten its footprint.

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