Some Gains from Learning Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological …
133
3 Reflections on Environmental Work
1. Learning and practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization
The environmental work in the charge of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
is vital to how China pursues its development path and the living quality of the
people. Therefore, it is necessary to further raise the awareness of environmental
issues. The most fundamental point is to study and practice Xi Jinping Thought
on Ecological Civilization. It is a powerful ideological weapon and fundamental
guideline to ensure the development of ecological civilization by the Party and the
country, indicating that our Party’s philosophy and way of governance have entered
a new theoretical and practical realm. The establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on
Ecological Civilization as the guideline unveils a fundamental and historic change
in the status of ecological civilization in the cause of socialist construction. We
must consciously take an ecologically civilized approach to lead overall economic
and social development. Never again must we regard ecological civilization and
environmental work as just one task for one department.
2. Moving faster to build systems for an ecological civilization
It is also a huge systematic program that requires joint efforts of the entire society.
The program includes a cultural system in which environmental concepts and values
are norms, an economic system aimed at integrating industries and ecosystems,
a system of responsibilities and objectives centered on improving environmental
quality, a system of institutions backed by modernized governance systems and
capacity, and a safety system that emphasizes the maintenance of well-functioning
ecosystems and the effective prevention and control of environmental risks. Twenty
years ago, China’s Agenda 21 introduced the concept of the environment as a source
of “natural capital.” The environment is generally considered to be a natural resource.
When we develop natural resources including their various elements, do we consider
that natural resources are also important natural assets? In this way, there emerge
three concepts including natural resources, natural assets and natural capital. The
industrialization of ecology is made possible only if their relations and transformation
conditions are identified. If we can use the concepts of resources, assets and capital
to understand the current treatment of air, water and soil pollution, we can heighten
our awareness of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and step
up efforts to deepen the environmental work.
3. Transforming the economic development mode as the top priority in
building a system of ecological economy
As we all know, ecological problems arise in economic development and are closely
related to the way the economy develops. Back in early 1980s, Xu Dixin, a famous
Chinese economist, proposed to rebalance the relations between economic development and ecological environment and to study ecological economics. In 1984,
I attended the inaugural meeting of the China Ecological Economics Society and
133
3 Reflections on Environmental Work
1. Learning and practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization
The environmental work in the charge of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
is vital to how China pursues its development path and the living quality of the
people. Therefore, it is necessary to further raise the awareness of environmental
issues. The most fundamental point is to study and practice Xi Jinping Thought
on Ecological Civilization. It is a powerful ideological weapon and fundamental
guideline to ensure the development of ecological civilization by the Party and the
country, indicating that our Party’s philosophy and way of governance have entered
a new theoretical and practical realm. The establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on
Ecological Civilization as the guideline unveils a fundamental and historic change
in the status of ecological civilization in the cause of socialist construction. We
must consciously take an ecologically civilized approach to lead overall economic
and social development. Never again must we regard ecological civilization and
environmental work as just one task for one department.
2. Moving faster to build systems for an ecological civilization
It is also a huge systematic program that requires joint efforts of the entire society.
The program includes a cultural system in which environmental concepts and values
are norms, an economic system aimed at integrating industries and ecosystems,
a system of responsibilities and objectives centered on improving environmental
quality, a system of institutions backed by modernized governance systems and
capacity, and a safety system that emphasizes the maintenance of well-functioning
ecosystems and the effective prevention and control of environmental risks. Twenty
years ago, China’s Agenda 21 introduced the concept of the environment as a source
of “natural capital.” The environment is generally considered to be a natural resource.
When we develop natural resources including their various elements, do we consider
that natural resources are also important natural assets? In this way, there emerge
three concepts including natural resources, natural assets and natural capital. The
industrialization of ecology is made possible only if their relations and transformation
conditions are identified. If we can use the concepts of resources, assets and capital
to understand the current treatment of air, water and soil pollution, we can heighten
our awareness of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and step
up efforts to deepen the environmental work.
3. Transforming the economic development mode as the top priority in
building a system of ecological economy
As we all know, ecological problems arise in economic development and are closely
related to the way the economy develops. Back in early 1980s, Xu Dixin, a famous
Chinese economist, proposed to rebalance the relations between economic development and ecological environment and to study ecological economics. In 1984,
I attended the inaugural meeting of the China Ecological Economics Society and