Sustainable Development·China in the Past Decade｜Our Thinking and Actions(I)

In December 2002, on China’s first anniversary of WTO membership, China WTO Tribune (now known as China Sustainability Tribune) was launched to record China’s entering into a new stage of opening-up.

To address the global ecological and social crisis, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, until today, have been our key focuses.

In November 2012, the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held, which marked the beginning of a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the guidance of the new development concept of "innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing", we have become more convinced of the significance of sustainable development for China.

In January 2019, against the backdrop of sustainable development as a national development strategy and a global goal, China Sustainability Tribune was officially launched to advocate sustainable development. With the motto of "Global Perspective, Competition and Win Together", the journal gathers "future-oriented thinking and action". The promotion of sustainable development has been our unwavering pursuit and inspiration.

The decade from 2012 to 2022 is of greater challenges and achievements for sustainable development, which mirrors the endeavor contributed by China Sustainability Tribune.
 

As a media named after sustainable development, it is the responsibility of China Sustainability Tribune to spread this idea and increase the awareness of people and organizations on sustainability.

With ten years of development and continuous efforts, China Sustainability Tribune has built up a more complete content structure and communication channels, presenting itself as an influential media in social responsibility/sustainability field.
 

Advocate sustainable development - Successful operation of the China Sustainability Tribune

Based on "future-oriented thinking and action", China Sustainability Tribune is committed to becoming an influential and professional media in Chinese and international social responsibility/ sustainability field by conveying the sustainability information and ideas, presenting the latest developments of sustainability comprehensively and accurately, and bringing together the forces that promote sustainable development and the power to transform the world.

China Sustainability Tribune has set up various key columns, including "Addressing Climate Change", "Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development", "Towards Carbon Neutrality", "Biodiversity", "Central Corporate Social Responsibility", "Sustainable Finance", "Sustainable Consumption", "Sustainable Business Practices" and "Sustainable Development of the Industry". A stable team of high-quality authors has been built, with a number of widely disseminated and influential articles published.

China Sustainability Tribune also published special issues on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the centenary of the CPC respectively to review and summarize the great achievements of sustainable development and to gather more consensus and momentum.

Build communication channels for sustainable development - "Sustainable Development Network" and new media groups

Nowadays, as the media continues to upgrade and transform, China Sustainability Tribune highly values the construction of communication channels such as website and new media. Its official website has been upgraded to "Sustainable Development Network" (www.sdg-china.net), shouldering more to convey ideas and actions of sustainability.

Its WeChat official account has enhanced the timeliness and interaction with readers, and has now become an influential new media in social responsibility/sustainability. Meanwhile, its Toutiao account, Baijia account and official Weibo account have been opened, and more efforts will be paid on improving the WeChat video channel.
 

Support "Learning Power" - Build and Operate "Sustainable Development" Column

The "Learning Power" learning platform, a quality platform for all party members and the general public, is supervised by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CPC as its main contents.

On December 9, 2019, the "Sustainable Development" column was officially available on the international channel on the "Learning Power" APP and the "Global Vision" section on PC with the support of the China Sustainability Tribune. TIt focuses on China's major achievements in sustainable development and contributions to global sustainable development, covering such major national development issues as poverty eradication, the construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative, ecological civilization and a shared community for all, quality development and many sustainability issues closely related to people's livelihood.

Build a think tank hub - the Academic Board follows new trends

The Academic Board was put in place when the China Sustainability Tribune was founded. The board is composed of well-known scholars in the field of sustainable development in China. The aim is to provide guidance for quality content and to support the authority of the journal in the key areas, laying the foundation of rich and high-end expert resources for the China Sustainability Tribune.

The Academic Board holds, on a yearly basis, no more than two annual academic conferences where the members focus on developments in sustainability, exchange important ideas, and provide constructive advice.

Sustainable development is the "golden key" to addressing global problems.

On October 27, 2020, China Sustainability Tribune launched "GoldenKey-SDG Solutions Campaign", which aims to identify and set up a benchmark for Chinese enterprises' sustainable development actions and advance the implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Based on the AMIVE criteria of "Accuracy, Match, Innovation,Value, Evaluation", the GoldenKey campaign gains positive reception by adhering to the GoldenKey standard and the rules of fair competition. By the end of September 2022, a total of 414 enterprises had declared 494 actions, and the GoldenKey China SDG Solutions Collection was published. Moreover, the GoldenKey Management Seminar and Sustainability Leadership Forum was held with Research Center for Green Economy and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University and Tsinghua University Global Institute for Sustainable Development.

In June 2021, "GoldenKey-SDG Solutions" was selected as one of the UN SDG Good Practices.

In November 2021, the "Action to the Future - Report of Shaping the Low-carbon Leadership of Chinese Enterprises by GoldenKey Solutions" was released at the Chinese Corporate Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), providing a model for enterprises in other countries to actively participate in global climate governance.

On June 28, 2022, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) and the China Sustainability Tribune jointly launched the "GoldenKey· SGCC Special". Focusing on common social and environmental issues on a global scale, the activity released a "list of problems" for all units of SGCC and relevant enterprises, institutions and social organizations to tackle, and carried out roadshows or provided evaluation based on the criteria and procedures of the GoldenKey Campaign. After that, the most iconic SGCC solutions and Chinese solutions were selected to address global problems and contribute to the SDGs implementation.

Driving sustainable development requires strong market mechanisms, of which consumption plays a huge part.

As the beginning and the end of economic activity, the driving force of consumption on economic growth is mainly in creating new production requirements, which in turn provides the impetus and purpose for production.

On May 9, 2021, at the first China International Consumer Goods Expo (CICPE), China Sustainability Tribune, together with Dell Technologies, Nestle, Visa, Sateri and other companies, launched the Global Sustainable Consumption Initiative, calling on global companies to take multiple actions. First, integrate sustainable development into their long-term development strategies. Second, design and manufacture sustainable products and services. Third, integrate sustainable consumption into their marketing strategies and sales channels. Fourth, take responsibility for promoting sustainable consumption and sustainable living. Fifth, promote consumer equity and build an inclusive and equitable society. Sixth, join hands with stakeholders to create a social atmosphere and to put in place policies and mechanisms for sustainable consumption. The Global Sustainable Consumption Initiative adopts a "1+N" initiative model. At the launching ceremony, each sponsor displayed its own sub-initiatives in different industries and fields with its own characteristics and advantages to promote sustainable consumption from multiple perspectives and dimensions.

On July 27, 2022, at the second Sustainable Consumption Forum of the CICPE, there were new members joining the Global Sustainable Consumption Initiative, including L'Oreal China, China Resources Snow Breweries, Jingdong Logistics, Lee Kum Kee Sauce Group, M&G Group and Ctrip Group.

At the second CICPE, China Sustainability Tribune worked with several brands to create a "Sustainable Consumption Experience Space" themed on "Proud to Sell, Honored to Buy". Besides, together with L'Oreal China and the China Environmental Protection Foundation, China Sustainability Tribune released the Action Guide for Household Chemicals Industry to Promote Sustainable Consumption, for promoting sustainable consumption in China's household cleaning and chemical industry.