On June 19^th 2016, US environmental nonprofit organization EmeraldPlanet interviewed Dr. Ping He, President, International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE), Hongxing (Tonny) Xie, Director, Secretariat for Clean Air Alliance of China (CCAC) and the Innovation for Clean-air Solutions (ICCS), Jianxin (Jason) Wang, Deputy Secretary-General, China Energy Efficiency Investment and Assessment Committee, China Energy Research Society (CERS) and President, U.S. – China Council for International Exchanges (USCCIE), Chenxiao (Kelvin) Zhang, Digital Artist, Videographer, & Photographer, Xingyu Wang, Chief Legal Officer, Assistant to President, International Fund For China’s Environment (IFCE) and Chengchao Xiao, Environmental Engineering PhD Student at University of Florida at organization’s headquarter in Washington DC. During the interview the host Dr. Sam explored the current air pollution issues in China with all guests and talked about the younger Chinese generations’ outlook in the future of China’s environment.

Background:

EmeraldPlanet: The EmeraldPlanet International Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with its headquarters and television production studios in Washington, D.C. USA. Created in 1973, the EmeraldPlanet’s activities include the identification of 1,000 best practices as they pertain to the environment and the promotion of alternative energy sources.

International Fund for China’s Environment: The International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE) is an international environmental organization based in Washington DC, with branch offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Changsha and Wuhan. Founded in 1996 by a group of scientists and professionals concerned with China’s environmental problems, IFCE aims to ensure a healthy global environment and continuous economic development by helping China solve its environmental problems.

Clean Air Alliance of China: Clean Air Alliance of China (CAAC), initiated by 10 key Chinese academic and technical institutions in the field of clean air, aims at providing an integrated clean air collaboration platform in China for academic and technical institutions, provinces and cities, non-profit organizations and enterprises. The overarching goal is to improve air quality in China and mitigate the negative impacts on public health due to air pollution. The members of CAAC include academic institutions, provinces & cities, as well as other nonprofit organizations and enterprises that care about clean air.

Interview with Dr. He

In the first section Dr. Sam interviewed Dr. He. Dr. He introduced how they founded IFCE and how IFCE’s mission is to facilitate bilateral and multilateral cooperation among NGOs, governments, and corporations in solving environmental problems; influence government actions on environmental restoration and resource conservation policies and programs; and promote the development and popularity of new environmental/green technologies in China and others.

Dr. Sam mentioned how the latest successful event, the 2016 Global Forum on China’s Urban Air Pollution Control, has brought China’s air pollution issues back to people’ minds, and he asked how the Chinese government and IFCE reacted to this and if they have any suggestions or plans to tackle sever air pollution. Dr. He explained that for the past few years, IFCE has been focusing on China’s air pollution and actively advocating with central and local governments. The Chinese government has been introducing more strict air pollution acts and regulations, designed and adjusted policies and regulations according to different local conditions. Dr. He concluded by saying that IFCE would continue focusing on environmental issues in China, and collaborating with government, civil society and corporations to improve China’s environment.

Interview with Mr. Hongxing (Tonny) Xie

In the second section Dr. Sam interviewed the director of Clean Air Alliance of China, Hongxing  (Tonny) Xie. Mr. Xie introduced exciting achievements of CAAC in the recent years and what CAAC is focusing on.

During the interview Dr. Sam mentioned the environmental technology exchange between American and Chinese companies, and asked what Mr. Xie thinks of the achievements of collaboration in the field of the environment. Mr. Xie responded that there have been huge successes in collaboration between China and the US, especially in the field of air pollution control. In his words, the most important thing is that collaboration on fighting air pollution is not only helping China, it is also doing a great favor towards mitigating global warming. Therefore neither China nor the US should regard it as a huge meaningless cost, and instead it should be regarded as a successful and promising investment.

Interview with Mr. Jianxin Wang

In the third section Dr. Sam interviewed the Vice President of IFCE Mr. Jianxin Wang. During the interview Dr. Sam asked why China Energy Research Society (CERS) plays such an important role in China. Mr. Wang explained that China Energy Research Society is an academic group focused on energy policy and science. As he said, at this moment CERS is focusing on green energy, and trying to improve the facilities at coal plants in northern China to reduce air pollution. Because air pollution is very severe in northern China so green energy technologies are critical, Mr. Wang added.

Interview with Ms. Xingyu Wang, Mr. Chenxiao (Kelvin) Zhang and Mr. Chengchao Xiao

In the last section of the interview, Dr. Sam asked Mr. Zhang why he combined his beloved arts with China’s environmental problems. Mr. Zhang answered this question with his perspectives from his own experience. He said he wishes American people and the world could understand how severe environmental problems are in China at this moment. Next Dr. Sam asked Ms. Wang and Mr. Xiao, as members of younger Chinese generations, how do they think of China’s future? Two guests both told Dr. Sam why they would be involved in environmental protection and why there are interested, and they all delivered confidence and good wishes toward China’s future of fighting environmental problems.