“Many new facts and trends in 2016…are challenging the old, stereotypical narratives used to explain China’s environment…. [S]ome of the narratives [Such as “China's environment is terrible: the air, water and soil are all toxic”, "with Chinese local governments' one-sided pursuit of economic growth, environmental protection regulations are unable to be effectively implemented", “China does not bear its fair share of responsibility for a country that is having such a massive impact on the world environment"] …are being “loosened”.

Officials, civil society and international parties will co-author the continuing narrative on China's environment. In 2016, when Chinese officials used the ambitious "13th Five-Year Plan" to set the tone of green growth over the next five years, people in Changzhou, Lianyungang and Chengdu were screaming about their own environmental problems…. [T]he interaction between these forces will determine how the ecological picture of this country is depicted.”