China's Integrated Approach to Ecological Civilization as a Model for Global Sustainability

James Thornton, the founder of ClientEarth, an environmental law organization, and a professor at Oxford University's Smith School, revealed his plans for a new project during an interview with China Daily. The interview took place at the Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2025, a two-day event held in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province in Southwest China.

Thornton emphasized that the Western press often focuses on isolated examples of China's environmental efforts, such as electric vehicles, solar panels, or high-speed transit. He argued that these examples are part of a larger, interconnected vision that is not fully understood, even by prominent commentators in publications like the Financial Times and The Economist. He believes this overarching approach is crucial and could be the key to preserving human civilization.

He highlighted the difficulty in implementing ideas, noting that China has demonstrated significant success in turning concepts into reality. Thornton expressed his optimism, stating that each visit to China reveals further progress.

Thornton views China's approach as the best hope for humanity to survive and thrive in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. He believes it offers a path toward an advanced civilization that can coexist harmoniously with the environment.

In his new role as a professor at Oxford University, Thornton is establishing a project that will focus on Western scholars studying ecological civilization.