By Yan Jiarong,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Two months ago during China’s Spring Festival Holiday, I travelled to Exuma Islands. Standing in the stunning sapphire-blue waters, I was deeply touched by the significant strides The Bahamas has made in environmental preservation. In 2024, The Bahamas was recognized as the least polluted country globally, with its capital, Nassau, ranking as the cleanest capital city according to IQAir’s annual report. This achievement not only enhances the nation’s natural allure but also aligns with the global movement toward sustainable development, underscored by the annual observance of Earth Day.

This year’s Earth Day theme—“Our Power, Our Planet”—emphasizes the collective effort required to accelerate the shift to renewable energy and ensure a sustainable future for all. For nations like The Bahamas, this theme highlights the urgency of building climate resilience and strengthening international partnerships to address common challenges.

China is a trustworthy partner of The Bahamas as meaningful progress of cooperation has been made in recent years to build a better planet, marked by both high-level coordination and grassroots outcomes:

• China helps with disaster risk management: In November 2024, the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas donated $30,000 to the Disaster Risk Management Authority, under the China-Caribbean Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Fund. This funding supports national emergency preparedness and reflects China’s responsiveness to local development priorities.

• China helps with capacity building and training: In addition to equipment support, China has hosted training courses and workshops for Bahamian professionals in disaster response, climate adaptation, and sustainable infrastructure planning. Several Bahamian officials and technical experts have participated in exchange programs on emergency management and low-carbon urbanization, hosted by Chinese institutions.

• China helps with a leap into the NEV Era: New energy vehicles (NEVs) made in China are gaining popularity across The Bahamas. Dealerships such as Easy Car Sales have introduced Chinese brands like BYD to meet growing demand for affordable and sustainable mobility. With fuel prices remaining high and environmental awareness increasing, EV sales have climbed steadily in recent years.

• Multilateral and bilateral cooperation are closer: On 15 November 2024, the Director of the ational Energy Conservation Center of China, Liu Qiong, met with the Director of the Climate Change & Environmental Advisory Unit of the Office of Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Rochelle Newbold, uring COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Topics discussed include bilateral cooperation in ew energy vehicles, charging infrastructure, and carbon sinks.

Good cooperation between China and The Bahamas not only brings real benefits to their peoples, but also proves that the two are spiritual partners committed to green development. China has long advocated for building a “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind,” promoting joint responses to climate change and global environmental challenges. Since the 1990s, China has held Earth Day events every year on April 22. The Bahamas’ efforts in environmental preservation and participation in international climate dialogue resonates with China’s vision of sustainable development and ecological civilization.

• Advocating “Nature as wealth”: Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.” Since 2000, China has contributed approximately 25% of the world’s net forest area growth through ambitious afforestation and ecological restoration efforts. These initiatives enhance carbon sinks and support biodiversity protection.

• Accelerating the Transition to Renewable Energy: China has dramatically scaled up its renewable energy sector, reaching its 2030 target of 1,200 gigawatts of installed solar and wind capacity six years ahead of schedule, as of July 2024. This milestone underscores China’s proactive transition toward a cleaner energy structure and contributes to global decarbonization efforts.

• Combating Climate Change Through Emissions Reduction: China has pursued a dual-carbon strategy, aiming to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Between 2012 and 2023, China reduced carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by more than 35%, signaling a significant decoupling of emissions from economic growth.

• Advancing Global Climate Governance and South-South Cooperation: China plays a leading role in global climate governance and strongly advocates the Paris Agreement’s principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation, China has extended green assistance to over 120 developing countries, launching low-carbon energy, eco-industrial park, and climate-smart agriculture projects across Asia, Africa, Latin America—and increasingly, in the Caribbean.

China stands ready to create a better future with The Bahamas, showing that as Global South nations are not just followers of global rules—we are co-creators of a better system for all. Looking ahead, the foundations laid in recent years by the two countries have created an enabling environment for deeper, broader, and more innovative collaboration. As we commemorate Earth Day 2025, we reaffirm a simple but powerful truth: our planet’s future is a shared responsibility. China is always ready to work with The Bahamas and all nations committed to sustainability, unity, and progress. On the road to responding to climate change and green development, China will always be a friend and a stable and reliable partner of The Bahamas. With mutual respect and mutual trust, we can light together the path toward a greener, safer, and more harmonious world for future generations.