Putting Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization …
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enforcement and judicial services, China is promoting the rule of law in the ecological domain and combining top-down and bottom-up supervision models. This is in
line with the goal of rule-based governance and the modernization of China’s capacity
and system for governance. Xi stressed that an accountability system holding both
the Party and government chiefs responsible should be put in place. The central
authorities introduced a system of accountability for environmental damage, and
established the central environmental protection inspection system as effective mechanisms to enforce policies. From the perspectives of politics and administration, the
top-down accountability system represents a distinctive feature of China’s system.
The state also encourages the public to participate in building an ecological civilization, and invites them to supervise pollutant discharge and law enforcement. The
central authorities also offer timely encouragement and promotion to local governments’ innovative approaches to pollution control and environmental protection.
By strengthening top-level design, spurring local innovation and mobilizing public
participation, China has formed strong synergy in advancing ecological progress. The
unique strength of China’s system as is shown in the ecological domain is forming
an effective comprehensive system to treat serious environmental pollution. Xi made
a visionary explanation of the system for ecological civilization development from
five perspectives and called for efforts to win the protracted war against pollution.
“We must move faster to build systems for an ecological civilization. We must act
quickly to establish the following ecologically focused systems: 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. By moving faster to build systems for an ecological
civilization, we will guarantee that the goals of the Beautiful China Initiative are
essentially met. By the middle of the century, we will complete all-round improvements in the material, political, intellectual, social and ecological domains. At that
time, environmentally friendly ways of living and developing will be fully formed,
human and nature will coexist in harmony, modernization of our national governance
system and capacity in the environmental field will be fully realized, and our efforts
to build a beautiful China will be successful.”
3 Green Development is Essential for the Building
of a High-Quality Modern Economic System
At the National Conference on Eco-environmental Protection, Xi said, “we must
promote green development across the board. Green development is essential for
establishing a modern and high-quality economic system and the key to resolving
pollution problems. We must adjust the economic and energy structures, optimize
181
enforcement and judicial services, China is promoting the rule of law in the ecological domain and combining top-down and bottom-up supervision models. This is in
line with the goal of rule-based governance and the modernization of China’s capacity
and system for governance. Xi stressed that an accountability system holding both
the Party and government chiefs responsible should be put in place. The central
authorities introduced a system of accountability for environmental damage, and
established the central environmental protection inspection system as effective mechanisms to enforce policies. From the perspectives of politics and administration, the
top-down accountability system represents a distinctive feature of China’s system.
The state also encourages the public to participate in building an ecological civilization, and invites them to supervise pollutant discharge and law enforcement. The
central authorities also offer timely encouragement and promotion to local governments’ innovative approaches to pollution control and environmental protection.
By strengthening top-level design, spurring local innovation and mobilizing public
participation, China has formed strong synergy in advancing ecological progress. The
unique strength of China’s system as is shown in the ecological domain is forming
an effective comprehensive system to treat serious environmental pollution. Xi made
a visionary explanation of the system for ecological civilization development from
five perspectives and called for efforts to win the protracted war against pollution.
“We must move faster to build systems for an ecological civilization. We must act
quickly to establish the following ecologically focused systems: 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. By moving faster to build systems for an ecological
civilization, we will guarantee that the goals of the Beautiful China Initiative are
essentially met. By the middle of the century, we will complete all-round improvements in the material, political, intellectual, social and ecological domains. At that
time, environmentally friendly ways of living and developing will be fully formed,
human and nature will coexist in harmony, modernization of our national governance
system and capacity in the environmental field will be fully realized, and our efforts
to build a beautiful China will be successful.”
3 Green Development is Essential for the Building
of a High-Quality Modern Economic System
At the National Conference on Eco-environmental Protection, Xi said, “we must
promote green development across the board. Green development is essential for
establishing a modern and high-quality economic system and the key to resolving
pollution problems. We must adjust the economic and energy structures, optimize