Switzerland: A successful example of combining economic development with environmental protection
Xinhua News Agency Geneva, January 8 -- Essay: Switzerland: A successful example of combining economic development and environmental protection
Xinhua News Agency reporter Nie Xiaoyang
In many people's impression, places with a good natural environment are often poor and backward, but Switzerland has set up a successful example of organic integration of economic development and environmental protection.
Switzerland covers an area half the size of Chongqing. China has a population of just over 8 million. According to the World Happiness Report released by the United Nations, Switzerland leads the world in economic indicators, social justice, honesty and health care. For many years in a row, Switzerland has topped the list of the happiest countries in the world.
When interviewed by the reporter, many local people in Switzerland cited the beautiful natural environment and clean living environment as an important source of happiness.
Switzerland is not only one of the richest countries in the world, but also one of the best ecological environment. According to regular assessments of countries' environment, air pollution, water quality, biodiversity, natural resource management and climate change conducted by Columbia and Yale universities in the United States, Switzerland ranks first in air quality and ranks high in other indicators as well.
Switzerland's achievements in environmental protection, I should say, come first from its meticulous and strict legislation. In Switzerland, those who cut down a tree must plant one, and those who cut down trees are punished by law. In cities and villages, bare land is not allowed, and even construction sites must be temporarily covered with canvas to keep the dust from flying. Under strict centralized sewage treatment measures, 70% of Switzerland's natural lakes are still drinkable.
In order to reduce pollution, all railways in Switzerland and China have been electrified, and the city has vigorously developed trams and trolleybuses. In recent years, electric vehicles have also been developed. Hotels, restaurants, office buildings and private homes are not allowed to install air conditioning without special permission. Natural ventilation or the use of electric fans are advocated. Last summer, Switzerland and many parts of the world experienced the highest temperatures in more than 150 years, and the whole country sold out of electric fans, but the air conditioning installation control did not make an exception.
As the first European country to use vehicle exhaust purification devices, Switzerland implements strict vehicle exhaust emission standards. Switzerland is also one of the most effective and thorough waste disposal countries in the world. No matter in the city or in the countryside, there are all kinds of garbage bins everywhere, and the garbage must be sorted into unified plastic bags and then put into different bins. The Swiss waste classification is even detailed to the colored glass bottles and white glass bottles are also put into boxes. In many cantons, residents pay a garbage tax based on the amount of garbage they throw away, but there is no charge for recycling.
Switzerland is also a world leader in recycling and recycling waste. According to statistics, 70 percent of paper, 95 percent of glass, 81 percent of plastic bottles and 90 percent of aluminum cans are recycled in Switzerland. In most parts of Switzerland, food scraps have to be broken up before they can go down the drain, while waste such as leaves and grass clippings is commonly composted.
Meanwhile, in Switzerland, where there is no shortage of water, many buildings are equipped with special stormwater pipes to store and recycle rainwater.
Another highlight of Swiss environmental protection is education. In Switzerland, environmental education has been deeply rooted in the people. Most Swiss primary and secondary schools offer courses on "People and the environment", and environmental education is also an important part of Swiss vocational education.
It is worth mentioning that at Swiss children's quinceanera, the gifts given to them by parents often include an environmental handbook. Because, do not litter in public places, do not trample on the grass, do not throw debris into lakes or rivers, etc., has become the basic social ethics that everyone in Switzerland needs to observe.