Title: Building a Beautiful Home with Blue Skies, Clear Waters, and Green Lands — An Era-Defining Answer to Xi Jinping’s Ecological Civilization Vision

June 5 is World Environment Day, and this year’s theme in China is “Comprehensive Green Transformation, Building a Beautiful China Together.”

“Ecological civilization construction benefits the present and future generations.” Building a beautiful China is a key goal in comprehensively building a modern socialist country and an important part of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the central leadership has made ecological civilization a fundamental plan for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. It has vigorously promoted theoretical, practical, and institutional innovation in ecological civilization, creatively proposing a series of new concepts, ideas, and strategies, forming Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization.

Guided by this thought, China has taken solid steps toward green and low-carbon development, significantly improving environmental quality. Hundreds of millions of people are working together to build a beautiful home with blue skies, clear waters, and green lands, writing an era-defining answer for building a beautiful China.

“Ecological civilization construction brings the greatest sense of gain to the people”

One car illustrates the efforts of various regions in precise and scientific pollution control.

As environmental governance deepens, mobile source pollution from vehicles has become a major source of air pollution in some cities. Tianjin, a key hub for vehicle distribution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, has over 4.93 million vehicles, including about 92,000 medium and heavy trucks.

Tianjin has used technology to optimize governance models, building an online monitoring platform and an enterprise access system. Through electronic fences, it precisely defines monitoring areas. Enforcement officers can see vehicle entry and exit times and whether emission data is abnormal at a glance on the platform.

These measures have led to visible results. Compared to 2020, Tianjin’s average annual PM2.5 concentration dropped by 25% last year, and the number of good air quality days increased by 36, equivalent to an extra month of blue skies.

This is a microcosm of how regions are using more precise and scientific methods to control pollution and continuously improve environmental quality.

A good ecological environment is the most equitable public good and the most inclusive benefit for people’s livelihoods. It has been stated that ecological civilization construction brings the greatest sense of gain to the people, and they feel the deepest when the environment improves.

Since the new era, the central leadership has intensified efforts to promote ecological civilization. The 18th National Congress included ecological civilization in the “five-sphere” integrated plan for socialism with Chinese characteristics. The 5th Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee proposed new development concepts, with green development as a key part of high-quality growth. The 19th National Congress report included a beautiful China as a goal of socialist modernization. The 20th National Congress report emphasized that Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature.

Series of laws and systems have been established to safeguard the construction of a beautiful China. Two landmark documents, the “Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of Ecological Civilization” and the “Overall Plan for the Reform of the Ecological Civilization System,” laid the framework. Systems such as the river and lake chief system, forest chief system, ecological damage compensation, and environmental protection inspections have been implemented. Environmental laws and regulations have been updated, with multiple laws revised and an ecological environment code compiled, further strengthening the legal foundation for a beautiful China.

Local governments and departments have taken various measures to improve environmental quality. Efforts include reducing coal pollution through clean heating renovations, phasing out outdated production capacity, speeding up urban sewage pipeline construction, strengthening wastewater treatment capacity, promoting “zero-waste city” construction, and improving rural living environments.

It has not been an easy journey.

At the 2025 Central Urban Work Conference, it was noted that “blue skies have become the norm. The ‘APEC Blue’ I announced to the world at the Beijing APEC meeting has been realized.” From “APEC Blue” to “Winter Olympics Blue” to “Normal Blue,” Beijing’s air pollution control achievements have been hailed by the UN Environment Programme as the “Beijing Miracle.”

Nationwide, blue skies are increasingly the norm. In 2025, the national PM2.5 concentration dropped to 28 micrograms per cubic meter, and the proportion of good air quality days reached 89.3%, the best level since monitoring began.

Clear waters are flowing again. The proportion of excellent surface water quality reached 91.4%, and urban black

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, often referred to as Jing-Jin-Ji, is a major economic and cultural hub in northern China centered around the capital city of Beijing. Historically, the area has been a political and strategic heartland for centuries, with Beijing serving as the imperial capital during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, it is a key focus of China’s coordinated regional development strategy, aimed at integrating infrastructure, industry, and environmental protection across the three areas.

Tianjin

Tianjin is a major port city in northern China with a rich history as a key trading hub and gateway to Beijing. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it became a center of foreign influence, leaving behind a unique blend of European and Chinese architecture. Today, Tianjin is known for its vibrant culture, modern development, and historic sites like the Ancient Culture Street.

Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the world’s oldest and most historically significant cities, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. It has served as the imperial capital for much of the last millennium, most notably during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is home to iconic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Today, Beijing is a vibrant global metropolis that blends ancient cultural heritage with modern development, serving as the political, cultural, and educational heart of the country.

APEC Blue

APEC Blue refers to the temporary, unusually clear skies seen over Beijing, China, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2014. This phenomenon was achieved through strict government measures, including factory shutdowns and traffic restrictions, to reduce air pollution for the international event. The term highlights the contrast between the artificially produced clean air and Beijing’s typical smoggy conditions, sparking discussions about environmental policy and pollution control.

Winter Olympics Blue

“Winter Olympics Blue” refers to the iconic blue color associated with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, prominently featured in the official logo and branding. The shade symbolizes the ice and snow of winter sports, as well as the clarity and ambition of the Games. This color was chosen to represent the event’s modern, dynamic spirit while reflecting China’s commitment to hosting a sustainable and high-tech Olympic Games.

Normal Blue

“Normal Blue” is not a widely recognized cultural site or historical location. It may refer to a contemporary art piece, a brand name, or a local nickname for a lesser-known place. Without additional context, its history and significance cannot be determined.

UN Environment Programme

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority established in 1972 by the United Nations, following the landmark Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Its primary role is to coordinate environmental activities, assist developing countries in implementing sound environmental policies, and encourage sustainable development through scientific analysis and advocacy. UNEP is best known for its work on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution, including the creation of the annual “UNEP Champions of the Earth” awards.

Beijing Miracle

“Beijing Miracle” typically refers to the dramatic transformation of Beijing from a traditional imperial capital into a modern, global metropolis, especially following the 2008 Summer Olympics. The city underwent massive infrastructure development, including new airports, subway lines, and iconic structures like the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. This rapid modernization showcased China’s economic rise and organizational capability, symbolizing the nation’s emergence as a major world power in the 21st century.