Towards Green Development: From an Option to an Objective
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heavy industry and extensive development model have brought about fundamental
obstacles, making it impossible for the environment and resources to support the
sustainable development of the economy. Therefore, we must explore a green path
with equal stress on development and protection.
2. Green development is a scientific choice made by China in the process of
deepening understanding of the laws of socioeconomic development
At the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972,
Premier Zhou Enlai first brought the issue of pollution to the attention. He emphasized that environmental problems should not be regarded as trivial matters and
called for immediate actions. Under the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai, China
sent a delegation to the Conference on the Human Environment, which marks an
important turning point for China to take the initiative to opt for the path of green
development. In 1995, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee
decided to bring about “two fundamental changes.” One is to transform from a
traditional planned economic system to a socialist market economic system, and the
other is to change the mode of economic growth from extensive to intensive. This
reflects the inherent requirements of economic growth in the new stage and an objective choice for achieving sustainable development. Since the second half of 2002,
China has entered a new round of expanding heavy chemical industry, followed by
heavy investment across the country in high energy-consuming and high-emission
projects such as steel, cement, chemical, and coal power. This has put tremendous
pressure on the resources and environment, leading to the growing resource-related
and environmental constraints. In October 2003, the Third Plenary Session of the
16th CPC Central Committee put forward the scientific outlook on development that
requires “putting people first, aiming at comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable
development, and promoting well-rounded development of the economy, society and
people.” The Fifth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee proposed
to “accelerate the development of a resource-conserving and environment-friendly
society.”
In this way, green development has become the will and the governing concept
of the Party and the state. Following the 2008 financial crisis, revolutions in new
energy and “Internet Plus” broke out around the world, demonstrating the reflection
on the entire industrial civilization. The report at the 18th CPC National Congress
first made the “building of a beautiful China” a grand goal of ecological progress.
It gave prominence to the development of ecological civilization, incorporating it
into all aspects and the whole process of advancing economic, political, cultural,
and social progress, as well as the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan for the socialist cause
with Chinese characteristics. For the first time, the CPC Constitution amended and
adopted at the 18th CPC National Congress stipulated that “the Communist Party
of China shall lead the people in building a socialist ecological civilization” and
expounded on the statement, consolidating the strategic significance of the ecological progress. In October 2015, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central
Committee introduced the philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and
333
heavy industry and extensive development model have brought about fundamental
obstacles, making it impossible for the environment and resources to support the
sustainable development of the economy. Therefore, we must explore a green path
with equal stress on development and protection.
2. Green development is a scientific choice made by China in the process of
deepening understanding of the laws of socioeconomic development
At the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972,
Premier Zhou Enlai first brought the issue of pollution to the attention. He emphasized that environmental problems should not be regarded as trivial matters and
called for immediate actions. Under the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai, China
sent a delegation to the Conference on the Human Environment, which marks an
important turning point for China to take the initiative to opt for the path of green
development. In 1995, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee
decided to bring about “two fundamental changes.” One is to transform from a
traditional planned economic system to a socialist market economic system, and the
other is to change the mode of economic growth from extensive to intensive. This
reflects the inherent requirements of economic growth in the new stage and an objective choice for achieving sustainable development. Since the second half of 2002,
China has entered a new round of expanding heavy chemical industry, followed by
heavy investment across the country in high energy-consuming and high-emission
projects such as steel, cement, chemical, and coal power. This has put tremendous
pressure on the resources and environment, leading to the growing resource-related
and environmental constraints. In October 2003, the Third Plenary Session of the
16th CPC Central Committee put forward the scientific outlook on development that
requires “putting people first, aiming at comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable
development, and promoting well-rounded development of the economy, society and
people.” The Fifth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee proposed
to “accelerate the development of a resource-conserving and environment-friendly
society.”
In this way, green development has become the will and the governing concept
of the Party and the state. Following the 2008 financial crisis, revolutions in new
energy and “Internet Plus” broke out around the world, demonstrating the reflection
on the entire industrial civilization. The report at the 18th CPC National Congress
first made the “building of a beautiful China” a grand goal of ecological progress.
It gave prominence to the development of ecological civilization, incorporating it
into all aspects and the whole process of advancing economic, political, cultural,
and social progress, as well as the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan for the socialist cause
with Chinese characteristics. For the first time, the CPC Constitution amended and
adopted at the 18th CPC National Congress stipulated that “the Communist Party
of China shall lead the people in building a socialist ecological civilization” and
expounded on the statement, consolidating the strategic significance of the ecological progress. In October 2015, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central
Committee introduced the philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and