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G. Zhu
“chorus” of ecological efforts. To that end, supportive policies and incentive mechanisms are needed. Measures such as fiscal input, ecological compensation and tax and
fee concessions should be adopted to encourage local governments, businesses and
industries to consciously perform their social responsibilities and take an active part
in ecological progress. Relevant authorities can set up a dedicated unit to coordinate
and guide their ecological efforts toward inter-departmental and whole-of-society
interaction.
2. Establishing coordinated institutions for ecological progress
A scientific and standard performance assessment system is an important basis and
institutional guarantee for boosting ecological progress. Since the 18th CPC National
Congress, relevant central authorities and some local departments, as per the requirement of ecological civilization, have begun to incorporate ecological indicators in the
assessment system for local CPC Committees and governments. An accountability
system has also been put in place to hold accountable the units and individuals
whose blind decisions regardless of environmental carrying capacity have caused
grave consequences. Considering the differences in economic and social development across the country, we should establish and improve sound assessment methods
and rewarding and punishing mechanisms based on resource consumption, environmental damages and ecological benefits. According to the general layout and requirement of national land resources and space development, systems concerning resource
and environmental conservation, paid use of resources, environmental accountability
and damage claims, as well as environmental laws and regulations should all be
perfected. Attention should also be paid to inter-regional cooperation. We should
create solid systems for major project consultation, joint law enforcement and information sharing and disclosure among regions and prevent contradiction and mutual
obstruction among the policies and rules released by various regions, industries and
departments.
3. Conducting coordinated publicity and mobilization to foster a powerful
social atmosphere in favor of ecological progress
Strengthening ecological publicity and education and promoting ecological civilization is the first step to boost ecological progress. Publicity and education are
intended to lay the social, moral and cultural foundation for ecological campaign
and to transform the way of production and life. We need to make full use of all
publicity channels and create new approaches to popularize relevant knowledge,
enhance people’s awareness of conservation, environmental protection and ecology,
and accelerate the shift to a simple and moderate, green and low-carbon, and healthy
and culturally advanced lifestyle, making resource and environmental conservation
the mainstream value in the society. Upholding an ecological culture and building
an ecological cultural system with Chinese characteristics provides the ideological
assurance for elevating the people’s environmental ethics and levels of morality and
consolidating the social basis for ecological progress. New thoughts and approaches
G. Zhu
“chorus” of ecological efforts. To that end, supportive policies and incentive mechanisms are needed. Measures such as fiscal input, ecological compensation and tax and
fee concessions should be adopted to encourage local governments, businesses and
industries to consciously perform their social responsibilities and take an active part
in ecological progress. Relevant authorities can set up a dedicated unit to coordinate
and guide their ecological efforts toward inter-departmental and whole-of-society
interaction.
2. Establishing coordinated institutions for ecological progress
A scientific and standard performance assessment system is an important basis and
institutional guarantee for boosting ecological progress. Since the 18th CPC National
Congress, relevant central authorities and some local departments, as per the requirement of ecological civilization, have begun to incorporate ecological indicators in the
assessment system for local CPC Committees and governments. An accountability
system has also been put in place to hold accountable the units and individuals
whose blind decisions regardless of environmental carrying capacity have caused
grave consequences. Considering the differences in economic and social development across the country, we should establish and improve sound assessment methods
and rewarding and punishing mechanisms based on resource consumption, environmental damages and ecological benefits. According to the general layout and requirement of national land resources and space development, systems concerning resource
and environmental conservation, paid use of resources, environmental accountability
and damage claims, as well as environmental laws and regulations should all be
perfected. Attention should also be paid to inter-regional cooperation. We should
create solid systems for major project consultation, joint law enforcement and information sharing and disclosure among regions and prevent contradiction and mutual
obstruction among the policies and rules released by various regions, industries and
departments.
3. Conducting coordinated publicity and mobilization to foster a powerful
social atmosphere in favor of ecological progress
Strengthening ecological publicity and education and promoting ecological civilization is the first step to boost ecological progress. Publicity and education are
intended to lay the social, moral and cultural foundation for ecological campaign
and to transform the way of production and life. We need to make full use of all
publicity channels and create new approaches to popularize relevant knowledge,
enhance people’s awareness of conservation, environmental protection and ecology,
and accelerate the shift to a simple and moderate, green and low-carbon, and healthy
and culturally advanced lifestyle, making resource and environmental conservation
the mainstream value in the society. Upholding an ecological culture and building
an ecological cultural system with Chinese characteristics provides the ideological
assurance for elevating the people’s environmental ethics and levels of morality and
consolidating the social basis for ecological progress. New thoughts and approaches