Putting Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization …
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The science-based feature of Xi’s thought is also shown in its respect for the
economic imperatives of green development and in its examination of what lessons
we can draw from the old development path of American and European countries.
“The problem of the environment is essentially about our approach to development.”
It is important that we adopt a holistic approach to conservation, prevent problems at
the source, impose strict oversight on the process, and avoid the old path of polluting
first and fixing it later. China’s modernization is a great process never seen in history
before.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is practice-oriented. It takes root
in Chinese people’s practices of building a modern country, and is committed to
solving practical problems in development. It fully reflects the unity of the practical, revolutionary and scientific nature of Marxism, and is the latest achievement
in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. When heading Fujian and Zhejiang, Xi
stressed resource conservation and environmental protection, and called for efforts to
advance green development for sustainability and harmony between man and nature.
This is the source of the principle of lucid waters and lush mountains being invaluable
assets and the practice-oriented feature of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, with Xi at the helm, China has
made coordination in environmental protection one of the three focuses of the plan
for coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; promoted wellcoordinated environmental conservation and avoided excessive development in the
Yangtze River Economic Belt; and highlighted green development in advancing the
Belt and Road Initiative. These practices show that Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is not only of generality, but also of direct practicality in shaping
the world and advancing China’s modernization drive. In comparison, mainstream
Western economics or non-mainstream leftist economics either focus on symptoms
rather than fundamental reasons, or is no more than scholasticism or Eco-utopia.
They regard their principles as post-modern pursuits, and fail to value the feasibility
of sustainable development.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is for the world. In its unprecedented modernization drive, China chose to make all-out efforts to pursue ecological
progress rather than the path of development first and clean up later as did Western
developed countries and some developing countries. What China has done offers
experience and gives a possible option to other developing countries and makes
major contributions to global sustainable development.
China is implementing the National Plan on Climate Change (2014–2020), and
was among the first to release the National Plan for the Implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. Fulfilling its obligations as a major developing
country, China played a decisive role in enabling a resolution at the Paris UN Climate
Change Conference, and won global acclamation. At the 27th session of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council held in February 2013, ecological
civilization put forth by China was included in the conference resolution. At the
second session of the UN Environment Assembly held in May 2016, China’s former
ministry of environmental protection and the UNEP jointly released Green is Gold:
The Strategy and Actions of China’s Ecological Civilization. China also worked to
177
The science-based feature of Xi’s thought is also shown in its respect for the
economic imperatives of green development and in its examination of what lessons
we can draw from the old development path of American and European countries.
“The problem of the environment is essentially about our approach to development.”
It is important that we adopt a holistic approach to conservation, prevent problems at
the source, impose strict oversight on the process, and avoid the old path of polluting
first and fixing it later. China’s modernization is a great process never seen in history
before.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is practice-oriented. It takes root
in Chinese people’s practices of building a modern country, and is committed to
solving practical problems in development. It fully reflects the unity of the practical, revolutionary and scientific nature of Marxism, and is the latest achievement
in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. When heading Fujian and Zhejiang, Xi
stressed resource conservation and environmental protection, and called for efforts to
advance green development for sustainability and harmony between man and nature.
This is the source of the principle of lucid waters and lush mountains being invaluable
assets and the practice-oriented feature of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, with Xi at the helm, China has
made coordination in environmental protection one of the three focuses of the plan
for coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; promoted wellcoordinated environmental conservation and avoided excessive development in the
Yangtze River Economic Belt; and highlighted green development in advancing the
Belt and Road Initiative. These practices show that Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is not only of generality, but also of direct practicality in shaping
the world and advancing China’s modernization drive. In comparison, mainstream
Western economics or non-mainstream leftist economics either focus on symptoms
rather than fundamental reasons, or is no more than scholasticism or Eco-utopia.
They regard their principles as post-modern pursuits, and fail to value the feasibility
of sustainable development.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is for the world. In its unprecedented modernization drive, China chose to make all-out efforts to pursue ecological
progress rather than the path of development first and clean up later as did Western
developed countries and some developing countries. What China has done offers
experience and gives a possible option to other developing countries and makes
major contributions to global sustainable development.
China is implementing the National Plan on Climate Change (2014–2020), and
was among the first to release the National Plan for the Implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. Fulfilling its obligations as a major developing
country, China played a decisive role in enabling a resolution at the Paris UN Climate
Change Conference, and won global acclamation. At the 27th session of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council held in February 2013, ecological
civilization put forth by China was included in the conference resolution. At the
second session of the UN Environment Assembly held in May 2016, China’s former
ministry of environmental protection and the UNEP jointly released Green is Gold:
The Strategy and Actions of China’s Ecological Civilization. China also worked to