"Climate change is a global topic. Tibet has done great work in this area, it wasn’t overdeveloped like some regions." Said Goerild Heggelund (Chinese name: He Xiuzhen), GM of Energy and Climate Change Policies and Chief of Asia-Pacific Region’s China Division at INTASAVE. On May 30th, she attended the “2030 Sustainable Development International Forum” in Nyingchi, Tibet, where over 100 experts from China and overseas gathered to discuss solutions for sustainable development.  

As Earth’s Third Pole, Tibet has continued the five development principles of “Innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing” to promote the sustainable development of an economic society. According to Losang Gyaltsen, Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet still has one of the best ecological environments in the world. In Tibet’s progress toward modernization, its forests, rivers, lakes, prairies, wetlands, glaciers, snowy mountains, wild animals and vegetation, and humanitarian environment were well-preserved. Forty-seven ecological preservation zones have been created, about 34.35% of Tibet’s total area. 

"The Chinese government understands and is experienced in this area. We know we cannot pollute first and fix later. We have to protect Tibet." Said Goerild, who has worked in China for UN agencies for 15 years, including years of studying. She has always worked in the climate and energy field, and gave herself the Chinese name of He Xiuzhen. 　　

Tibet has abundant new energy sources, with the highest amount of hydropower, solar power, and geothermal resources in China. With today’s shortages in energy and climate protection issues, Tibet’s application for new energy is particularly worth our attention.

"Tibet’s application for new energy is mostly guided by the government. We have to encourage more businesses to participate in the development and application of new energy, which will lead to more innovation." Said Goerild.　

The forum focuses on fairness, openness, comprehensiveness, and innovation in discussions of how to achieve preliminary results in sustainable development by 2030 and related methods. Xu Haoliang, Assistant Director and the Director of Asia-Pacific Affairs at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said China’s development principles of “Innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing” match the themes of this forum, and has included the development agenda in its “13th Five-Year Plan.”

"Eradication of poverty is the biggest preliminary result in China’s efforts toward sustainable development by 2030."Said Xu. In the next five years, China will help 55.75 million rural residents to escape poverty, including 590 thousand Tibetan residents.　　

Tim De Meyer, Director of the Beijing Bureau at the International Labour Organization said that Tibet needs to understand its advantages and disadvantages, as well as its actual conditions and capabilities in realizing its goals of sustainable development.

"All I saw of Tibet in documentaries are the wild antelopes and salt lakes, I thought it would be arid." Said De Meyer. After visiting Lulang Village of Nyingchi, known as “Switzerland of the East,” and seeing all the forests and snowy slopes, he marveled, "Tibet is much greener than I imagined."

"Tibet has bright skies and bright stars, the people are wise and there is so much knowledge." Claimed Losang Gyaltsen. Tibet will continue its sustainable development as part of China’s overall strategic planning, with a focus on ecological protection, exchanges and partnerships, improvement of standard of living, innovative social management, and active promotion of an economic society.

Allum, the Ethiopian representative at the UN in attendance at the forum, expressed optimism at Tibet’s outlook. "Tibet is already on an exciting journey of development. I have no doubt about its future. Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region has made clear promises about achieving sustainable development goals by 2030."