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Y. Ren
thrive if its natural surroundings thrive, and harmonious coexistence between man
and nature must be upheld. These are the basic principles and strategies in advancing
the building of an ecological civilization. Second, it originates from the ideas and
practices of deepening reforms on all fronts and governing the county in accordance
with the law. “The strictest regulations and laws must be applied in protecting the
environment.” This provides a mechanism for and a path to building an ecological
civilization. In other words, an ecological civilization can only be built by improving
the system and capacity for ecological and environmental governance. Third, it is
firmly based on related findings of natural sciences and social sciences. The logic
of an ecological civilization begins with environmental problems brought about by
the industrial civilization and its relationship with economic, political, cultural and
social development. The eight principles listed out above represent an insightful
understanding of the relationship between the environment and economy, society,
global governance and politics as well as of theories of ecological and environmental sciences. The principles provide methods, targets and institutional support
for building an ecological civilization.
A major aspect of the significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization lies in that it makes a strategic arrangement for ecological civilization development as part of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With such
strategic arrangement, historic, upending and fundamental changes are taking place
in the way we protection our environment.
1 The Principle of Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains
Being Invaluable Assets and the Laws of Environmental
Economics
The type, extent and influence of environmental problems are closely associated with
industrialization and urbanization. Since the launch of the reform and opening up,
China’s economic development or industrialization process has gone through five
stages: the stage from 1978 to 1980 when agriculture was the focus; the stage from
the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s when the light industry was the focus; the stage in
the mid-1990s when the economy began to be driven by the heavy industry; the stage
beginning in the late 1990s when the heavy industry dominated the economy; and the
current stage of an economic new normal. In line with the characteristics of different
stages, the conflict between the environment and economic development began to
drastically deteriorate in the 1990s. Before the early and middle 1990s, China’s
environment saw local deterioration, but was still sound on the whole. Entering the
stage when high-energy-consuming and high-pollutant-discharging heavy industry
dominated economic activities, China faced an environmental situation featuring
local improvement and general deterioration, posing increasing pressure.
China’s understanding of the relationship between the environment and economic
development evolved with the conflicts between the environment and the economy.
Y. Ren
thrive if its natural surroundings thrive, and harmonious coexistence between man
and nature must be upheld. These are the basic principles and strategies in advancing
the building of an ecological civilization. Second, it originates from the ideas and
practices of deepening reforms on all fronts and governing the county in accordance
with the law. “The strictest regulations and laws must be applied in protecting the
environment.” This provides a mechanism for and a path to building an ecological
civilization. In other words, an ecological civilization can only be built by improving
the system and capacity for ecological and environmental governance. Third, it is
firmly based on related findings of natural sciences and social sciences. The logic
of an ecological civilization begins with environmental problems brought about by
the industrial civilization and its relationship with economic, political, cultural and
social development. The eight principles listed out above represent an insightful
understanding of the relationship between the environment and economy, society,
global governance and politics as well as of theories of ecological and environmental sciences. The principles provide methods, targets and institutional support
for building an ecological civilization.
A major aspect of the significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization lies in that it makes a strategic arrangement for ecological civilization development as part of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With such
strategic arrangement, historic, upending and fundamental changes are taking place
in the way we protection our environment.
1 The Principle of Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains
Being Invaluable Assets and the Laws of Environmental
Economics
The type, extent and influence of environmental problems are closely associated with
industrialization and urbanization. Since the launch of the reform and opening up,
China’s economic development or industrialization process has gone through five
stages: the stage from 1978 to 1980 when agriculture was the focus; the stage from
the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s when the light industry was the focus; the stage in
the mid-1990s when the economy began to be driven by the heavy industry; the stage
beginning in the late 1990s when the heavy industry dominated the economy; and the
current stage of an economic new normal. In line with the characteristics of different
stages, the conflict between the environment and economic development began to
drastically deteriorate in the 1990s. Before the early and middle 1990s, China’s
environment saw local deterioration, but was still sound on the whole. Entering the
stage when high-energy-consuming and high-pollutant-discharging heavy industry
dominated economic activities, China faced an environmental situation featuring
local improvement and general deterioration, posing increasing pressure.
China’s understanding of the relationship between the environment and economic
development evolved with the conflicts between the environment and the economy.