In a recent interview with Science and Technology Daily, professor Michael Meadows, a prominent physical geographer and educator at Nanjing University's Geography and Ocean Sciences School, shared his insights on China's ecological development and the significant strides it has taken in environmental protection.

"There's been huge progress in China's ecological development and it's not even only recently," said Meadows, highlighting tangible actions undertaken by the Chinese government. He noted that China has made substantial progress, both historically and in contemporary times.

Earlier this year, Meadows co-authored a paper on environmental sustainability with experts from Beijing Normal University. The paper documented environmental protection measures by the Chinese government, dating back to the 1970s, particularly focusing on soil conservation. "We're seeing huge improvement in land use and management in rural areas of China," he said, underscoring the profound impact of these policies on environmental sustainability and improving people's livelihood.

He also pointed out that China's achievement in poverty eradication is noteworthy, which is accomplished in part through environmental conservation efforts. "China is the only country in the world that's eradicated extreme poverty," said Meadows, emphasizing "the twin benefits of looking after the environment, in particular the soil, are improving the productivity and the livelihoods of the people who are working on the land."

Expressing personal admiration for China's policy-level achievements, Meadows lauded the concept of "eco-civilization" or ecological civilization, a vision he believes is gradually becoming a reality.

"In China, the air quality has massively improved compared to what it used to be," Meadows said, dispelling misconceptions about the country's air conditions. As a jogger, he fully experiences the air quality in Nanjing and other cities around the world. He acknowledged the progress China has made in addressing air quality, a concern often raised by people in Western countries. He often shows his friends that Nanjing's air quality is better than that of other cities like London via a weather app. "There are still places from time to time where pollution concentrates, but on the whole, there's been huge progress made," he said.

China's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060 and the increased share of renewable energy in its national energy structure were also highlighted by Meadows. He commended the efforts to phase out consumption of coal mines and increase the number of electric vehicles powered by renewables despite challenges.

"We could work faster and harder," Meadows said, emphasizing the importance of continuous efforts in environmental protection. While expressing his optimism about China's future, he applauded the progress the country has made and encouraged further advancements in the realm of environmental sustainability. As China continues its journey toward a greener future, the world is watching with keen interest the nation's evolving ecological achievements, he said.