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C. Bao
China’s understanding of development and best illustrate how green development
evolved in China from ideas to actions. One of the strengths of China’s political
system as a socialist country is that long-term development plans at the national
level continues well with coherence. For implementation of the green development
strategy, relentless efforts are required to change the way of economic development
and people’s way of life. China is at an advantage thanks to the continuity in its development plans, which ensures that the green development strategy will be continuously
followed over a long period of time. However, top-level strategies alone are by no
means enough for green development. In addition to national plans, it also requires
concerted efforts from authorities at provincial, municipal and county levels, and a
cohort of plans including national development plans, special plans, regional plans,
and land development plans. With national development plans in an overarching
position, the aforementioned plans designed by governments at all levels, each with
specific functions, complement one another and constitute a coherent system. These
plans facilitate the implementation of the green development strategy at various
levels, thus contributing to the fulfillment of China’s overarching goals. At a certain
administrative level, special plans provide more details for the development plans in
specific areas of work and must be consistent with national development plans and
land development plans.
Green development is a central concept in the 13th Five-year plan. This article
examines China’s national and provincial development plans during the 11th, 12th
and 13th five-year plan periods, and analyzes the evolution of the concept of green
development from the perspectives of the guiding thought, basic principles, goals
and targets, and content of the plans. Also analyzed are the implementation of the
green development strategy and the path to green development at different levels of
the Chinese government based on plans of JS province and CS city during the 13th
Five-Year Plan period.
2 Evolution of the Concept of Green Development Through
the 11th, 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans
Based on analysis of China’s 11th, 12th and 13th five-year plans for economic and
social development from the perspectives of guiding thoughts, development goals and
major content, this article examines the evolution of the concept of green development
and its policy implications with the belief that green development is embodied in
development plans at different stages, and that the focus in the pursuit of green
development has changed from resource utilization to resource-environment balance,
and ultimately to overall improvement of the environment.
To achieve green development, it is a must to significantly enhance resource
utilization efficiency and hold down consumption of resources. The 11th Five-Year
Plan set binding targets for resources and environment for the first time. Among the 22
targets for national economic and social development, seven are related to resources
C. Bao
China’s understanding of development and best illustrate how green development
evolved in China from ideas to actions. One of the strengths of China’s political
system as a socialist country is that long-term development plans at the national
level continues well with coherence. For implementation of the green development
strategy, relentless efforts are required to change the way of economic development
and people’s way of life. China is at an advantage thanks to the continuity in its development plans, which ensures that the green development strategy will be continuously
followed over a long period of time. However, top-level strategies alone are by no
means enough for green development. In addition to national plans, it also requires
concerted efforts from authorities at provincial, municipal and county levels, and a
cohort of plans including national development plans, special plans, regional plans,
and land development plans. With national development plans in an overarching
position, the aforementioned plans designed by governments at all levels, each with
specific functions, complement one another and constitute a coherent system. These
plans facilitate the implementation of the green development strategy at various
levels, thus contributing to the fulfillment of China’s overarching goals. At a certain
administrative level, special plans provide more details for the development plans in
specific areas of work and must be consistent with national development plans and
land development plans.
Green development is a central concept in the 13th Five-year plan. This article
examines China’s national and provincial development plans during the 11th, 12th
and 13th five-year plan periods, and analyzes the evolution of the concept of green
development from the perspectives of the guiding thought, basic principles, goals
and targets, and content of the plans. Also analyzed are the implementation of the
green development strategy and the path to green development at different levels of
the Chinese government based on plans of JS province and CS city during the 13th
Five-Year Plan period.
2 Evolution of the Concept of Green Development Through
the 11th, 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans
Based on analysis of China’s 11th, 12th and 13th five-year plans for economic and
social development from the perspectives of guiding thoughts, development goals and
major content, this article examines the evolution of the concept of green development
and its policy implications with the belief that green development is embodied in
development plans at different stages, and that the focus in the pursuit of green
development has changed from resource utilization to resource-environment balance,
and ultimately to overall improvement of the environment.
To achieve green development, it is a must to significantly enhance resource
utilization efficiency and hold down consumption of resources. The 11th Five-Year
Plan set binding targets for resources and environment for the first time. Among the 22
targets for national economic and social development, seven are related to resources