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J. Li
ecological civilization has been inscribed in the Party Constitution and the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, turning it into the Party’s proposition, a
national will and a task for all Chinese. Giving ecological civilization unprecedented
historical significance means that the Party has brought its governance philosophy
and methods to the next level. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated that it is
necessary for us to deeply understand the significance for incorporating ecological
civilization development into socialism with Chinese characteristics. He also repeatedly emphasized the need to incorporate ecological civilization development into
all aspects of work and put ecological progress in juxtaposition with our pursuit of
economic, political, cultural, and social progress. These highlights the dominant role
of ecological civilization in the national strategy, enriched the connotation of building
a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and made the cause of socialism with
Chinese characteristics more attractive. Moreover, ecological civilization development does not only involve resource conservation and environmental protection, but
also requires fundamental changes to production methods and lifestyles. Taking the
lead and in the meantime serving as a coordinator and carrier in China’s all-round
endeavor for development, ecological civilization development is indispensable for,
rather than against our pursuits in other aspects.
2. Scientific top-level design: unprecedented reform of the ecological civilization system
The CPC Central Committee adopts a problem-oriented and target-based approach
to the reform of the systems that has been severely restricting and hindering the
development of an ecological civilization over years. The following approaches
have been used. First, the theoretical structure with multiple pillars has taken shape.
The central government successively issued more than 40 reform plans, basically
forming a system for ecological civilization development based on the Opinions on
Accelerating the Advancement of Ecological Civilization and the Integrated Plan for
Promoting Ecological Progress and the eight modules of property rights of natural
resource assets, land development and protection, spatial planning system, resource
management and conservation, paid use and compensation of resources, environmental governance system, market system, performance assessment and accountability. An ecological environmental protection system for whole-process governance has been formed to strengthen pollution reduction at the sources, process
management, punishment of polluters, and environmental accountability. Second,
significant progress has been made in the management system reform. The decentralized ecological and environmental protection responsibilities was reorganized in
the reform to clearly define responsible institutions and put the responsibilities for
supervision, administration and law enforcement of ecological and environmental
affairs in urban and rural areas in the charge of dedicated authorities. The Ministry
of Ecology and Environment was established to push forward the reform of vertical
oversight and inspection system in institutions below the provincial level and the
reform of comprehensive administrative law enforcement regarding ecological and
environmental protection. Much work has been done to remove the shortcomings of
the existing systems and mechanisms, and accelerate the building of an ecological
J. Li
ecological civilization has been inscribed in the Party Constitution and the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, turning it into the Party’s proposition, a
national will and a task for all Chinese. Giving ecological civilization unprecedented
historical significance means that the Party has brought its governance philosophy
and methods to the next level. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated that it is
necessary for us to deeply understand the significance for incorporating ecological
civilization development into socialism with Chinese characteristics. He also repeatedly emphasized the need to incorporate ecological civilization development into
all aspects of work and put ecological progress in juxtaposition with our pursuit of
economic, political, cultural, and social progress. These highlights the dominant role
of ecological civilization in the national strategy, enriched the connotation of building
a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and made the cause of socialism with
Chinese characteristics more attractive. Moreover, ecological civilization development does not only involve resource conservation and environmental protection, but
also requires fundamental changes to production methods and lifestyles. Taking the
lead and in the meantime serving as a coordinator and carrier in China’s all-round
endeavor for development, ecological civilization development is indispensable for,
rather than against our pursuits in other aspects.
2. Scientific top-level design: unprecedented reform of the ecological civilization system
The CPC Central Committee adopts a problem-oriented and target-based approach
to the reform of the systems that has been severely restricting and hindering the
development of an ecological civilization over years. The following approaches
have been used. First, the theoretical structure with multiple pillars has taken shape.
The central government successively issued more than 40 reform plans, basically
forming a system for ecological civilization development based on the Opinions on
Accelerating the Advancement of Ecological Civilization and the Integrated Plan for
Promoting Ecological Progress and the eight modules of property rights of natural
resource assets, land development and protection, spatial planning system, resource
management and conservation, paid use and compensation of resources, environmental governance system, market system, performance assessment and accountability. An ecological environmental protection system for whole-process governance has been formed to strengthen pollution reduction at the sources, process
management, punishment of polluters, and environmental accountability. Second,
significant progress has been made in the management system reform. The decentralized ecological and environmental protection responsibilities was reorganized in
the reform to clearly define responsible institutions and put the responsibilities for
supervision, administration and law enforcement of ecological and environmental
affairs in urban and rural areas in the charge of dedicated authorities. The Ministry
of Ecology and Environment was established to push forward the reform of vertical
oversight and inspection system in institutions below the provincial level and the
reform of comprehensive administrative law enforcement regarding ecological and
environmental protection. Much work has been done to remove the shortcomings of
the existing systems and mechanisms, and accelerate the building of an ecological