Zhijian Xia

Jul 11, 2024 | dialogue.earth | Xia Zhijian |Zhijian Xia

In March, a court in Xiangshan, Zhejiang province, sentenced two people to eight months in prison for fishing with prohibited gear during the closed season. Their trawl nets were confiscated, and they had to return the money earned and pay over CNY 56,000 (USD 7,700) in compensation for damaging ecosystem functions and fish stocks.

Apr 24, 2024 | dialogue.earth | Xia Zhijian |Zhijian Xia

Following the emergence of Covid-19 and its impacts, China put a strong emphasis on coal power and energy-intensive heavy industry to secure energy security and GDP growth. This has put it a long way off reaching its 2025 targets for energy and carbon intensity. How can China ensure these decisions do not make it more difficult to achieve peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060?

Apr 18, 2024 | dialogue.earth | Xia Zhijian |Zhijian Xia

As climate change brings warmer, more acidic waters to China, its offshore fish stocks are coming under pressure. A number of fish populations – including the large yellow croaker, sea bream and sandlance – are at risk, according to a study by researchers based in the US and China, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Ocean warming has been more pronounced in China’s offshore waters than almost anywhere else.

Dec 19, 2023 | chinadialogue.net | Xia Zhijian |Zhijian Xia

Swaying at the back of a subway train on Beijing’s Line 9, two China Post personnel in yellow and blue overalls hold on to a green trolley full of parcels. A few passengers are seated in front of them in the nearly empty carriage, playing on their mobile phones. The journey was taken on 23 September, day one of a pilot trialling express delivery via the city’s rail transit system.

Sep 20, 2023 | chinadialogue.net | Xia Zhijian |Zhijian Xia

Between 29 July and 1 August, the north of China saw record-breaking rainfall. More than 100mm fell over 174,000 sq km of land (the equivalent of Greece and the Netherlands combined), according to the National Meteorological Centre. The Hebei county of Lincheng was hit worst, with 1,003mm, compared to its annual average of 500mm. Beijing, meanwhile, saw its heaviest rainfall since instrumental records began in 1883. The downpours had severe consequences.