Celebrated on April 15, the Environmental Knowledge Day highlights the critical role of environmental education in achieving sustainable development. It dates back to the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It is particularly observed in countries like Russia and Uzbekistan.
In Russia, it has been officially celebrated since 1996, alongside the launch of a nationwide initiative aimed at preventing environmental hazards.Uzbekistan treats environmental education as a national priority.
It established the Central Asian Green University to enhance public understanding of climate and sustainability.China and Russia have constantly expanded their cooperation in green development, which not only benefits the two peoples, but also injects positive energy into regional and global development.Russia's first electric vehicle plant, with a designed annual production capacity of 100,000 units, was put into operation in September 2022.
Its spare parts are supplied by Chinese manufacturers. In 2006, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on joint monitoring of transboundary water quality.
Since 2007, the two countries have carried out joint monitoring on nine sections across five transboundary water bodies: Ergun, Heilongjiang, Ussuri and Suifen rivers, and the Xingkai Lake.Technical workshops are held regularly to enhance exchanges on water quality monitoring technologies.
These efforts have stabilized water quality in boundary rivers and supported ecological restoration in border areas.China and Russia have also deepened their cooperation in endangered species protection, emergency environmental response, solid waste management, and climate change.
The collaboration has steadily advanced and become increasingly coordinated within multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.China and Uzbekistan have developed a wide range of environmental cooperation.
In 2007, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on environmental protection, laying the foundation for technical exchanges and policy alignment.In 2019, Uzbekistan's International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea Basin signed a cooperation agreement with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focusing on land degradation and ecological restoration in the Aral Sea region.In 2024, a new agreement on environmental protection cooperation was signed to enhance collaboration in environmental governance, low-carbon technologies, and capacity building.Environmental Knowledge Day is not only a platform for exchange, but also a driving force for environmental education and international action.Through regular collaboration among academic and research institutions, global ecosystems benefit, with the China-Russia and China-Uzbekistan partnerships standing as vivid examples of this shared mission.(Cover: The Ussuri River in Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, May 12, 2023.
/VCG)