ZHOU Jinfeng Talks About New Benchmark in Green Building: Key Considerations for Low-Carbon and Biodiverse Parks

In late September 2024, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, President of the World Academy of Sustainable Development Limited (WAOSD) and a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, has shared his insights on establishing standards for low-carbon and biodiversity parks on the relavant consultation of a Standard. His perspectives offer valuable guidance for future park development in China, aiming to achieve a synergistic balance between low-carbon emissions and biodiversity conservation through scientific management.

1. The 4R Principle for Materials

Zhou Jinfeng emphasizes the importance of the "4R" principle for materials: reduce, reuse, recycle, and replace. This principle extends beyond short-term environmental friendliness to encompass long-term sustainability, considering the recyclability of materials even a century from now. By fully implementing the 4R principle, we can minimize resource waste throughout the entire lifecycle of a park.

2. The Significance of Environmental Impact Assessment

He highlights the critical role of environmental impact assessments, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, site-specific evaluations of land parcels from underground to aboveground. Using the Nanyuan (Beijing's wilderness area) so-called eco-project as an example, he underscores the importance of fully understanding the unique ecological value of a wild site. The widespread perception that wilderness lacks aesthetic appeal has led to the widespread destruction of natural landscapes in favor of more human-engineered and supposedly "beautiful" environments. Failure to do so can lead to suboptimal outcomes.

3. Full Lifecycle Management

Zhou Jinfeng emphasizes the importance of managing the entire lifecycle of a park, from construction and operation to post-operation. Green design, in particular, should be planned from the outset to maximize environmental performance during the operational phase.

4. Ecological Civilization Consensus and ESG Tools

Zhou Jinfeng stresses the need for a shared commitment to ecological civilization among all stakeholders, including owners, contractors, suppliers, and clients. He suggests using ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) tools to promote cooperation in sustainable development.

5. Quantified Evaluation of Ecological Civilization and ESG

To quantify the implementation of ecological civilization and ESG, Zhou Jinfeng proposes a scoring system. For instance, a park could lose points for not providing ecological civilization training or for failing to conduct assessments. Conversely, a park could gain points for achieving a consensus on ecological civilization and for using ESG tools.

6. Spatial Efficiency and Wilderness Protection Zhou Jinfeng also discusses the importance of spatial efficiency and protecting natural wilderness. He emphasizes the need to minimize the impact of development on natural ecosystems, particularly through in-situ conservation of wilderness areas.

By integrating green design, process management, material selection, and a shared commitment to ecological civilization, parks can effectively achieve their low-carbon and biodiversity goals. He highlighted the need to shift away from conventional approaches in ecological restoration. By recognizing the limitations of human-centric interventions, we can better leverage the power of nature through nature-based solutions (NbS).

Reporter: Wang Qianjia
Editor: YJ
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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