Editor's note: The State Council Information Office held a group interview recently featuring representatives from environmental protection and green development sectors to discuss ecological conservation and improving the living environment.

Over more than 30 years in the coking industry, I witnessed severe pollution — chimneys, smoke and stench. More troubling was our misunderstanding of environmental protection, as smoking chimneys were once seen as a sign of growth. Yaxin also went through that stage. Rising public concern and limits of extensive development pushed us to choose proactive transformation over passive response. We shifted to green development, from coal-based coking and chemicals to a modern company integrating energy chemicals, fine chemicals, power batteries and resource recycling.

Xie Hongsong, general manager of Shanxi Yaxin New Energy Science and Technology Co Ltd

Since joining the village leadership in 2017, I have encouraged villagers to protect the environment. I often join them in cleaning riverbanks, improving living conditions and developing ecotourism. I also promote policies on ecological protection. Today, our village has clean roads, full access to transport and tap water, and a beautiful environment. It shows that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

Nyima Dorje, director of the village committee of Zhenba in Nyingchi, Xizang autonomous region

We focus on solving environmental problems that directly affect the public. Since 2021, we have carried out inspections in river systems in the upper reaches of Lake Taihu, addressing issues that drew strong complaints. Over five years, we identified 114 problems. By pushing local action, we resolved issues such as black and odorous water bodies and sewage discharge. Environmental protection is for public benefit, and improving public satisfaction remains our mission.

Li Minxia, deputy director of the supervision and administration division at the Taihu Basin and East China Sea ecological environment supervision and administration authority under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment

Environmental problems near homes can cause immediate distress, such as cooking fumes. Near Yangtze Normal University in Fuling, about 120 vendors operate on a snack street, affecting nearby residents. After complaints and site visits, we confirmed the severity. We built a closed-loop system with urban management, recording and solving problems one by one. We are also planning mobile food carts with purification systems and digital emissions monitoring to reduce impact while keeping street life.

He Shuangjiang, head of the atmospheric environment protection section at the Ecology and Environment Bureau of Fuling district, Chongqing

Solving environmental problems near people is our responsibility. Every city has a mother river, and surrounding mountains are key to ecological security. In 2016, illegal quarrying was found in a scenic river area. One side of the mountain was intact, the other severely damaged. Using remote sensing, we identified over 40 sites. Authorities shut them down and restored vegetation. Remote sensing tracked progress and results, improving governance and restoring natural beauty to protect our mother river.

Hou Peng, director of the natural ecology remote sensing department at the Satellite Application Center for Ecology and Environment under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment