Companies need to take both social responsibility and environmental elements into consideration for survival and prosperity in the long run, according to a book on sustainability recently introduced to China.

Published by China Citic Press in Chinese, the book Sustainable Excellence: The future of business in a fast-changing world is co-written by Aron Cramer, president of Business for Social Responsibility, and Dr. Zachary Karabell, president of the independent economic research company River Twice Research.

"Sustainability, the crucial factor for a company's long-term development, is always regarded useless by many businessmen", said Cramer, "and those who know its importance have no idea how to integrate it into a company's operation. This book is to help people with the concept and practice of sustainability in a fast-changing world."

China is now experiencing and influencing changes in the process of sustainable development. Renewable resources are the key for China to solve energy scarcity to maintain sustainable development at high speed.

China has become one of the largest investors in major renewable energy projects and invested a total of $48.9 billion in clean energy and technology research in 2010, according to a report released in July this year.

The report is conducted by jointly the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Bloomberg and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

"The government has created a favorable macro environment for domestic companies in the clean-energy sector and introduced positive policy guidance for both the short and long term", said Ye Dong, founder of Tsing Capital, which focuses on clean-tech investment in China.

"Strongly supported by the government, there will be more emerging markets and business opportunities in the green energy industry", said Ye.