An American environmental specialist said recently that China’s transformation toward becoming a greener economy "means a lot" to the country and the world, indicating that it will set an example for other economies.

“How China responds to a low-carbon transition will set a good example and boost other countries’ confidence,” Manish Bapna, the executive vice-president and managing director of the World Resources Institute based in Washington, told a forum in Beijing.

“It (the transition) should be delivered in a fair, effective, and sustainable way.”

The forum called “Stories to Watch 2019” run by the WRI, is focused on the future environment and development issues.

In Bapna’s keynote speech, he also provided, five environment and development topics, such as “climate adaptation”, “green Belt and Road” and “US climate action”.

In term of global environmental governance, Bapna believes that, for instance, China's implementation of the“green Belt and Road”could attract worldwide attention and raise awareness about ecological in the process of construction.

Other prominent scholars and government officials from China and abroad also presented their ideas .

Making his point, He Jiankun, deputy president of China's National Expert Committee on Climate Change, echoed Bapna by saying “China’s approach could set an example to other developing countries through the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.”

He Jiankun told China Watch that in order to improve global environmental governance, China could provide experience as well as wisdom and take responsibility as a major power.

He also called for closer communication and cooperation globally, highlighting the urgency to take action on environmental issues.“If we don't speed up in the next 20 to 30 years, it (inaction) may lead to a catastrophic ecological crisis,” he said.

WRI has hold similar events over the past 16 years, seeking to provide insights to policymakers, business leaders and media around the world.