Four departments, including the General Office of the Ministry of Education of China, recently issued the "Notice on the Intensive Ecological Civilization Thoughts and the Enhancement of Ecological Environment in the Primary and Secondary Schools." The "Notice" clarifies that, in accordance with the "plastic limit" requirements of the state, efforts should be made to achieve “the start of the school without plastics". Schools must not force students to use plastic cover, especially the problematic plastic cover.

The "Notice" requires strengthening education on the protection of the ecological environment and improving the evaluation and supervision mechanism. Educational administrations at all levels and primary and secondary schools must carefully arrange and formulate specific plans. In the relevant subject teaching, in-class extracurricular activities and school management, it fully reflects the thrifty, green and low-carbon consumption, so that students can effectively enhance the awareness of the ecological environment and improve the protection of the ecological environment. The market supervision department should increase the investigation and punishment of unqualified plastic products sold to students and enter the campus.

The "Notice" requires efforts to achieve "the start of the school without plastics”. The use of plastic is prone to white pollution. Some unqualified plastic book covers contain formaldehyde and benzene, which have an impact on children's nervous system and physical development. According to the country's "plastic limit" requirements, efforts to achieve " the start of the school without plastics", schools must not force students to use plastic book covers, especially the problematic plastic book cover.

The Notice requires a good public opinion atmosphere. Education, ecological environment, market supervision departments and science and technology associations at all levels should cooperate closely, give full play to the role of science and technology workers and various media, vigorously carry out popular science propaganda, and actively guide the majority of primary and middle school students to start from their own and start from the small things around them, to let the concept of diligence, low carbon consumption and green development become a common practice.

This highlights Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), his recommendations have been accepted by relevant Chinese authorities.

In the first half of 2019, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) sent a letter to the relevant departments, reflecting the widespread use of plastic book covers in primary and secondary schools, which was highly valued by relevant departments. In the summer of 2019, the relevant departments invited CBCGDF to discuss the issue of plastic book covers with the relevant departments of the China Association for Science and Technology.

At the meeting, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of CBCGDF gave a systematic introduction on the background of CBCGDF’s letter to relevant departments. He said CBCGDF made a systematic review of its work on the basis of in-depth study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Ecological Civilization. During this period, many parents reported and gave feedback on the problem of plastic book covers, which CBCGDF paid great attention to, and hoped that by changing the situation , starting with details, it could help the school establish the concept of ecological civilization, and put students’ ideological education and guidance into practice.

Dr. Zhou emphasized that the plastic book cover seems to be a small problem, but it is closely related to the idea of the ecological civilization construction of Xi Jinping. The small plastic book cover is related to the sustainable development of society and the progress of civilization. The idea of ecological civilization is a great development of Marxist philosophy. It covers production, life, thought, education, culture and many other aspects. Education is a very important part of the ecological civilization ideology. Through education, it spreads correct and scientific thoughts, allowing students to enhance their deep understanding of ecological civilization in the practice of not using plastic book covers, will have a great impact on China's future. It is recommended to systematically incorporate vivid examples of ecological civilization into the teaching system.

In the current world, the problem of plastic pollution and plastic waste has become a major issue of common concern. In 2018, the theme of UN Environment World Environment Day was Beat Plastic Pollution. In 2019, Xi Jinping made important instructions on how to do a good job in garbage sorting in China; in July 2019, Shanghai's domestic waste separation management method was introduced, which caused widespread concern. CBCGDF also carried out a series of work around "Reduce plastics, Pick-up plastics".

In addition, Dr. Zhou also introduced the group standards for the “Green Campus” released by CBCGDF. The standard includes evaluations on plastic book covers and recycling of books and hopes to listen to the opinions of relevant departments, help solve the problem of plastic book covers, and jointly practice the concept of ecological civilization.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

By / Niu Jingmei