Lesson 17: Environmental Policy
Engage with Chinese environmental policy discourse, mastering the vocabulary of climate, sustainability, and environmental governance.
Overview
Environmental policy has become one of the most prominent domains of Chinese domestic and international policy discourse. China's dual carbon goals (碳达峰, carbon peak by 2030; 碳中和, carbon neutrality by 2060) have generated an enormous body of policy documents, news coverage, and academic analysis. At the B2 level, learners must engage with this discourse using specialized vocabulary and the policy-specific grammar of goal-setting, measure-taking, and progress-reporting. This is a domain where Chinese engagement is reshaping global environmental governance.
Learning Objectives
- Use the measure-taking construction 为了...采取了...措施 accurately in policy discourse
- Deploy core environmental policy vocabulary with correct collocations
- Understand the rhetorical structure of Chinese environmental policy documents
- Read and analyze an excerpt from a policy document or environmental news article
- Write a short policy statement paragraph addressing an environmental challenge
Key Vocabulary
| Character | Pinyin | Type | Meaning | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 碳中和 | tàn zhōnghé | N | carbon neutrality | China's 2060 target; also 碳达峰 (carbon peak, 2030) |
| 绿色发展 | lǜsè fāzhǎn | N | green development | Official policy concept; sustainable growth |
| 可再生能源 | kě zàishēng néngyuán | N | renewable energy | Solar, wind, hydro; 可再生能源占比 = renewable energy share |
| 生物多样性 | shēngwù duōyàng xìng | N | biodiversity | 保护生物多样性 = protect biodiversity |
| 温室气体 | wēnshì qìtǐ | N | greenhouse gases | 减少温室气体排放 = reduce GHG emissions |
| 排放 | páifàng | V/N | to emit; emissions | 碳排放 = carbon emissions |
| 生态 | shēngtài | N/Adj | ecology; ecological | 生态文明 = ecological civilization (official PRC concept) |
| 节能 | jiénéng | V/Adj | to conserve energy; energy-saving | 节能减排 = energy conservation and emissions reduction |
| 治理 | zhìlǐ | V/N | to govern, manage; governance | 环境治理 = environmental governance |
| 转型 | zhuǎnxíng | V/N | to transform; transformation | 能源转型 = energy transition |
| 峰值 | fēngzhí | N | peak value | 碳排放达峰 = carbon emissions peak |
| 激励 | jīlì | V/N | to incentivize; incentive | 政策激励 = policy incentive |
| 约束 | yuēshù | V/N | to constrain; constraint | 法律约束 = legal constraint |
| 协议 | xiéyì | N | agreement, accord | 《巴黎协定》= Paris Agreement |
Grammar Focus
Pattern 1: 为了...采取了...措施 (Policy Measures for Goals)
Structure: 为了 + Goal, + Subject + 采取了 + (一系列/多项) + (Specific) + 措施
Explanation: This construction is the standard form for describing policy interventions in Chinese government documents and policy reporting. 为了 introduces the purpose or goal; 采取了措施 ("took measures") describes the policy response. In formal policy language, 措施 is almost always modified: 一系列措施 (a series of measures), 有效措施 (effective measures), 针对性措施 (targeted measures). The construction implies deliberate, goal-directed governance action and is the backbone of Chinese policy announcement language.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 为了实现碳中和目标，中国采取了一系列推动能源转型的政策措施。 | Wèile shíxiàn tàn zhōnghé mùbiāo, Zhōngguó cǎiqǔ le yī xìliè tuīdòng néngyuán zhuǎnxíng de zhèngcè cuòshī. | In order to achieve carbon neutrality targets, China has taken a series of policy measures to advance the energy transition. |
| 为了保护生物多样性，相关部门采取了划定自然保护区、禁止非法猎捕等多项有效措施。 | Wèile bǎohù shēngwù duōyàng xìng, xiāngguān bùmén cǎiqǔ le huádìng zìrán bǎohù qū, jìnzhǐ fēifǎ liè bǔ děng duō xiàng yǒuxiào cuòshī. | In order to protect biodiversity, relevant authorities have taken multiple effective measures including designating nature reserves and prohibiting illegal hunting and capture. |
| 为了降低城市碳排放，政府采取了补贴新能源汽车和限制高排放车辆的针对性措施。 | Wèile jiàngdī chéngshì tàn páifàng, zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ le bǔtiē xīn néngyuán qìchē hé xiànzhì gāo páifàng chēliàng de zhēnduìxìng cuòshī. | In order to reduce urban carbon emissions, the government has taken targeted measures including subsidizing new energy vehicles and restricting high-emission vehicles. |
Pattern 2: 在...方面取得了进展/面临挑战 (Progress and Challenges)
Structure: 在 + Policy Area + 方面, + Subject + 取得了进展 / 面临挑战/困难
Explanation: Policy evaluation language alternates between progress-reporting (取得了进展, 取得了成效) and challenge-identification (面临挑战, 存在困难). These paired formulas are ubiquitous in government work reports and policy analyses. The structure 在...方面 scopes the domain before the evaluative claim. The pair of progress and challenge is rhetorically important — Chinese official discourse tends to acknowledge both achievements and remaining difficulties, signaling honest self-assessment while maintaining an optimistic overall framing.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 在可再生能源发展方面，中国近年来取得了举世瞩目的进展。 | Zài kě zàishēng néngyuán fāzhǎn fāngmiàn, Zhōngguó jìn nián lái qǔdé le jǔshì zhǔmù de jìnzhǎn. | In the area of renewable energy development, China has made progress that has attracted worldwide attention in recent years. |
| 在生物多样性保护方面，全球范围内仍面临严峻挑战，物种灭绝速度远超自然水平。 | Zài shēngwù duōyàng xìng bǎohù fāngmiàn, quánqiú fànwéi nèi réng miànlín yánjùn tiǎozhàn, wùzhǒng mièjué sùdù yuǎn chāo zìrán shuǐpíng. | In the area of biodiversity conservation, the world still faces serious challenges, with species extinction rates far exceeding natural levels. |
| 在节能减排方面，各地取得的成效参差不齐，部分地区仍存在较大差距。 | Zài jiénéng jiǎn pái fāngmiàn, gè dì qǔdé de chénxiào cēncī bù qí, bùfèn dìqū réng cúnzài jiào dà chājù. | In the area of energy conservation and emissions reduction, the results achieved by different regions vary considerably, with some regions still showing significant gaps. |
Pattern 3: 目标是实现/争取/力争 (Goal-Setting Language)
Structure: 到...年, + Subject + 力争/争取 + 实现 + Specific Goal / 到...年实现...目标
Explanation: Chinese policy documents use specific modal expressions to differentiate degrees of commitment in goal-setting. 实现 (achieve) is used for confirmed targets. 力争 (strive to achieve) signals high ambition but acknowledges uncertainty. 争取 (aim for) is slightly softer. 确保 (ensure) signals the highest level of commitment — a guaranteed outcome. This vocabulary of graduated commitment allows policy documents to set ambitious goals while managing expectations about certainty of achievement.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 中国承诺到2030年实现碳排放达峰，到2060年力争实现碳中和。 | Zhōngguó chéngnuò dào 2030 nián shíxiàn tàn páifàng dá fēng, dào 2060 nián lì zhēng shíxiàn tàn zhōnghé. | China has pledged to achieve carbon emission peak by 2030 and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. |
| 争取到2025年，可再生能源在总发电量中的占比提升至50%以上。 | Zhēngqǔ dào 2025 nián, kě zàishēng néngyuán zài zǒng fādiàn liàng zhōng de zhànbǐ tíshēng zhì 50% yǐshàng. | Aim to raise the share of renewable energy in total electricity generation to above 50% by 2025. |
| 确保到2035年，全国生态环境质量实现根本好转。 | Quèbǎo dào 2035 nián, quánguó shēngtài huánjìng zhìliàng shíxiàn gēnběn hǎozhuǎn. | Ensure that the quality of the national ecological environment achieves a fundamental improvement by 2035. |
Authentic Text
Genre: Policy document excerpt (政策文件节选)
党的二十大报告明确指出，中国将坚定不移推进绿色发展，为实现碳达峰、碳中和目标而努力。为了加快能源结构转型，政府采取了一系列政策措施，包括大幅提升可再生能源装机容量、完善碳排放交易市场机制、强化高耗能行业的节能约束等。在生态文明建设方面，中国已取得了显著进展：全国空气质量持续改善，森林覆盖率稳步提升，生物多样性保护工作取得重要成效。然而，在推动产业绿色转型和减少碳排放方面，仍面临经济发展与环境保护协调并进的艰巨挑战。
Pinyin: Dǎng de èrshí dà bàogào míngquè zhǐchū, Zhōngguó jiāng jiāndìng bùyí tuījìn lǜsè fāzhǎn, wèi shíxiàn tàn dá fēng, tàn zhōnghé mùbiāo ér nǔlì. Wèile jiākuài néngyuán jiégòu zhuǎnxíng, zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ le yī xìliè zhèngcè cuòshī, bāokuò dàfú tíshēng kě zàishēng néngyuán zhuāngjī róngliàng, wánshàn tàn páifàng jiāoyì shìchǎng jīzhì, qiánghuà gāo hào néng hángyè de jiénéng yuēshù děng. Zài shēngtài wénmíng jiànshè fāngmiàn, Zhōngguó yǐ qǔdé le xiǎnzhù jìnzhǎn: quánguó kōngqì zhìliàng chíxù gǎishàn, sēnlín fùgài lǜ wěnbù tíshēng, shēngwù duōyàng xìng bǎohù gōngzuò qǔdé zhòngyào chéngxiào. Rán'ér, zài tuīdòng chǎnyè lǜsè zhuǎnxíng hé jiǎnshǎo tàn páifàng fāngmiàn, réng miànlín jīngjì fāzhǎn yǔ huánjìng bǎohù xiétiáo bìng jìn de jiānjù tiǎozhàn.
Translation: The report of the 20th National Congress of the Party explicitly states that China will steadfastly advance green development and work toward achieving the targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In order to accelerate the energy structure transition, the government has taken a series of policy measures, including substantially increasing renewable energy installed capacity, improving the carbon emissions trading market mechanism, and strengthening energy conservation constraints in high energy-consuming industries. In the area of ecological civilization construction, China has made significant progress: national air quality has continuously improved, forest coverage has steadily increased, and biodiversity conservation work has achieved important results. However, in terms of promoting industrial green transformation and reducing carbon emissions, there remain formidable challenges in coordinating the parallel advancement of economic development and environmental protection.
Dialogue or Monologue
Dialogue: An environmental policy researcher is interviewed
记者：中国的碳中和目标在国际上引起了广泛关注。您认为实现这一目标的最大挑战是什么？
研究员：最大的挑战，我认为是能源转型的速度与经济发展需求之间的平衡。中国仍然有大量以煤电为主的电力基础设施，为了实现碳中和目标，必须在保障能源安全的前提下，逐步完成向可再生能源的转型。
记者：政府在这方面采取了哪些措施？
研究员：措施很多。为了推动可再生能源发展，政府采取了财政补贴、绿色信贷和碳排放交易等多项激励措施。为了约束高排放行业，相关部门也出台了更严格的节能标准和排放限额。
记者：在生物多样性保护方面呢？
研究员：这是容易被忽视的一个方面。中国为了保护生态多样性，采取了建立国家公园体系的重要措施，目前已划定了多处国家公园。不过，在整体生物多样性保护方面，与全球先进水平相比，我们还面临较大差距。
记者：您对未来的进展是否乐观？
研究员：我持谨慎乐观的态度。政策意志是强烈的，但落实的难度不小。在经济发展与环境保护之间寻求平衡，是任何国家都面临的长期挑战。
Translation: Reporter: China's carbon neutrality target has attracted widespread international attention. What do you see as the greatest challenge in achieving this goal?
Researcher: The greatest challenge, I believe, is the balance between the pace of energy transition and the needs of economic development. China still has a large amount of coal-power-based electricity infrastructure, and in order to achieve carbon neutrality, the transition to renewable energy must be completed gradually while ensuring energy security.
Reporter: What measures has the government taken in this area?
Researcher: There are many measures. In order to promote renewable energy development, the government has taken multiple incentive measures including fiscal subsidies, green credit, and carbon emissions trading. In order to constrain high-emission industries, relevant authorities have also issued stricter energy conservation standards and emission caps.
Reporter: What about biodiversity conservation?
Researcher: This is an aspect that is easily overlooked. In order to protect ecological diversity, China has taken the important measure of establishing a national park system, with multiple national parks now designated. However, in terms of overall biodiversity protection, compared to global leading levels, we still face a significant gap.
Reporter: Are you optimistic about future progress?
Researcher: I hold a cautiously optimistic attitude. Political will is strong, but implementation is not easy. Seeking a balance between economic development and environmental protection is a long-term challenge that any country faces.
Practice
Exercise 1: Grammar Analysis In the following policy passage, identify: (a) each instance of 为了...采取了...措施, noting what goal and what measures are specified; (b) the goal-setting vocabulary (力争, 确保, 争取) and what level of commitment each signals; (c) how progress and challenges are balanced:
"为了推进生态文明建设，相关部门采取了严格执法和加大财政投入等措施。力争到2030年，城市空气质量优良天数占比达到90%以上，确保主要流域水质持续改善。"
Exercise 2: Translation Translate into formal policy Chinese:
- In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the government has taken a series of measures to promote the energy transition.
- In the area of ecological protection, China has made significant progress over the past decade.
- China pledges to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Exercise 3: Short Writing Task Write a 100-120 character policy announcement paragraph for an imaginary city environmental initiative. You must include: 为了...采取了...措施 (specifying the goal and at least two measures), 在...方面取得了进展 (noting one area of achievement), and a goal-setting statement using 力争 or 确保. Topics could include urban air quality, waste management, or river restoration.
Cultural or Academic Note
The concept of 生态文明 (ecological civilization) was elevated to constitutional status in China in 2018, signaling a fundamental shift in how environmental governance is officially framed. Rather than treating environmental protection as a constraint on economic development, the ecological civilization framework positions it as a necessary component of a higher stage of social development. This framing draws on both Chinese traditional ideas about humanity's relationship with nature (天人合一, tianrén héyī, "unity of heaven and humanity") and Marxist developmental theory.
China's announcement of its dual carbon goals at the UN General Assembly in 2020 was a significant diplomatic event, and the vocabulary of 碳达峰 and 碳中和 has since become dominant in both domestic policy discourse and international climate negotiations. For B2 learners interested in international relations, climate policy, or China's role in global governance, mastery of this vocabulary is not just linguistically useful but essential for engaging with one of the most consequential policy domains of our era.