International experts are convening in China this week to explore how healthy ecosystems can be harnessed for sustainable development amid intensifying global risks. At the opening ceremony of the second Nature-based Solutions Summer School in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Tuesday, participants also underscored the importance of enhanced global sharing and cooperation, and recognized China”s notable progress in the field.
Led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the 10-day event has brought together more than 40 experts from different fields for theoretical learning, case studies, group discussions and field visits across Guangzhou and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
“We are at a critical inflection point in human history. The planet faces an unprecedented convergence of crises — climate change, biodiversity loss and widespread land degradation. These are not isolated problems but deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing,” said Stewart Maginnis, deputy director-general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Maginnis stressed the importance of transforming policy landscapes to reflect ecological interdependence, with a core focus on nature-based solutions — actions that protect, sustainably manage and restore ecosystems while addressing societal challenges.
Against this backdrop, the summer school was established in 2025 to build capacity, “because knowledge is only capable of driving meaningful change when it is shared and applied”, he said.
“Over the next 10 days, through courses, exchanges and field visits in both Guangzhou and Hong Kong, you will not only expand your knowledge but also build a community of practice that breaks down silos, fosters trust and bridges sectors and disciplines,” he said to attendees. “In doing so, you will contribute to advancing nature-based solutions across Asia.”
For Amandine Heger, deputy director of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity of Luxembourg, this is her first visit to China, and she said Guangzhou has given her a profound sense of the country’s scale and speed of implementation.
“This is a country that does not merely discuss ecological transformation. It implements it, rooted in an ancient philosophy that sees humanity not above nature, but as part of it. China has translated this vision into actions at every scale,” Heger said.
She cited examples where Guangzhou has restored barren hills to green, established ecological corridors and advanced large-scale mangrove restoration along its coastlines.
Wu Jun, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Department of International Cooperation, said Guangzhou and Hong Kong were selected to host the second summer school due to their proven practices, noting that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a pioneer in green development and cross-regional ecological synergy governance.
Wu expressed hope that participants would share their perspectives and regional practices to accelerate the global implementation of nature-based solutions.
China will continue to implement the “Two Mountains Theory” — a concept emphasizing that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets — in advancing nature-based solutions and contributing Chinese wisdom to global ecological governance, she added.
Contact the writers at limenghan@chinadaily.com.cn