Hangzhou achieves big in green, sustainable development

A preview of the 2019 global World Environment Day celebrations, a forum on Belt and Road Initiative and green urbanization convened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on June 2.

Environmental experts from across the world gathered to share insights into green and sustainable development.

As a host city of this year's World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, Hangzhou has spent years exploring ways to create a cleaner environment.

Hangzhou Iron & Steel Group Co, a leader in Zhejiang's ferrous metal smelting industry, is a highly polluting company that used to produce 40 million tons of steel and consume more than 2 million tons of fuel a year.

To meet the development needs of the new era, the company shut down the steel production base and boosted industrial upgrading and transformation with a focus on metal trade, energy conservation and digital economy.

With its growing green energy sector, Hangzhou has witnessed an improvement in its transportation systems, with buses, taxis, water buses, and public bicycles all available in the city. Hangzhou has also built the most extensive public bus and bicycle service system in the world.

Determined to protect the beautiful mountains and clear waters, Hangzhou launched environmental renovation projects in several small towns and villages to improve the rural living environment and provide quality life for local residents.

As a result, the number of smoggy days in the capital city dropped from 185 days in 2013 to 40 days in 2018, and the fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) fell by an average of 43 per cent per year.

Hangzhou has been listed as China's "happiest city" for 12 consecutive years.