Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

A BATCH of enterprises, organizations and individuals were awarded for their outstanding environmental contributions at a ceremony commemorating World Environment Day held in Futian District yesterday.

Among those commended were the city’s first group of international environmental protection volunteers established by the OCT Wetland Nature School, the city’s first nature school.

The event also saw the unveiling of eight ecotourism routes, showcasing Shenzhen’s abundant natural resources, including mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, as well as family-friendly ecotourism destinations and the city’s cutting-edge environmental protection technologies.

The celebration event showcased notable green development initiatives across the city and success stories of enterprises.

This year, a total of 14 enterprises have been designated as green companies in recognition of their contributions to environmental preservation.

The 14 enterprises have used clean energy or energy-saving equipment to reduce their electricity and water consumption. For instance, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co. Ltd., one of the recognized companies, has installed solar photovoltaics, effectively reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 933 tons annually.

Additionally, Shenzhen has added 10 environmental education bases, the Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau announced Friday.

These education bases cover various topics such as waste sorting, biodiversity, organic agriculture, utilization and protection of water resources, wetlands, gene science knowledge, pest control, and management of invasive species.

Thanks to collective efforts, Shenzhen’s average PM2.5 concentration has now dropped to 16 micrograms per cubic meter, and the green coverage rate has reached 43%. Despite surpassing a GDP of 3.2 trillion yuan (US$449 billion), the city maintains a carbon emission intensity that is only one-fifth of the national average.

Additionally, Shenzhen is home to a diverse range of wildlife species, with a recorded count of 2,823, and boasts an extensive network of 1,260 parks and 3,120 kilometers of greenways, according to information released at yesterday’s event.

World Environment Day, led by the United Nations Environment Program, has been observed annually on June 5 since 1973. This year’s World Environment Day theme  is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution.”