Basic Path of Building Ecological Civilization
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on the track of new-type industrialization and walk into the new era of ecological
civilization.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that “lucid waters and
lush mountains are invaluable assets” and “protecting and improving the environment
is protecting and increasing productivity.”
Calling the nation to strongly promote ecological progress, the 18th CPC National
Congress vowed to “give priority to ecological progress and integrate it in every aspect
and the whole process of economic, political, cultural and social development.”
3 Six Parallel Areas of Ecological Efforts
1. Production
The promulgation of the Law on the Promotion of Clean Production reflects China’s
comprehensive considerations for resources and environment in the field of production, and the launch of pilot programs of circular economy in provinces and cities has
initiated a surge of circular economy across the country. The purpose of clean production is to establish an ecological industrial system comprising products (including
services) and production process and centered on eco-friendly restructuring and
transformation, and to design products—the core of linear material metabolism—
in an ecological way. Circular economy goes beyond clean production on a higher
level and in a larger scope by pushing for the transformation toward an ecological
industrial system and the shift of consumption mode. In the new era of ecological
civilization, we must keep promoting clean production and circular economy, developing ecological industry and pushing the ecological renovation of industrial parks.
We must also strongly advance ecological agriculture, and promote green utilization
of traditional energies and the exploitation and use of renewable energies.
2. Consumption
Consumption is a downstream sector, where the waste would lead to the hundreds,
thousands or more times of waste in resource exploitation. China has a huge base
of consumers with a low-level yet polarized consumption pattern. The outline of the
12th Five-year Plan called for the formation of a civilized, economical, green and
low-carbon consumption concept and a green lifestyle and consumption mode suitable for our national conditions. This includes using water-saving products, energysaving cars and energy/land-saving housing, reducing the use of disposable goods,
restricting excessive packaging, controlling irrational consumption, and promoting
green government procurement.
We should oppose extravagance and waste and the pursuit for material luxury,
establish a moderate consumption scale, scientific consumption structure, fair
consumption principles and civilized consumption behaviors, and pursue ecological consumer goods and pollution-free results. Despite China’s vast territory and
445
on the track of new-type industrialization and walk into the new era of ecological
civilization.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that “lucid waters and
lush mountains are invaluable assets” and “protecting and improving the environment
is protecting and increasing productivity.”
Calling the nation to strongly promote ecological progress, the 18th CPC National
Congress vowed to “give priority to ecological progress and integrate it in every aspect
and the whole process of economic, political, cultural and social development.”
3 Six Parallel Areas of Ecological Efforts
1. Production
The promulgation of the Law on the Promotion of Clean Production reflects China’s
comprehensive considerations for resources and environment in the field of production, and the launch of pilot programs of circular economy in provinces and cities has
initiated a surge of circular economy across the country. The purpose of clean production is to establish an ecological industrial system comprising products (including
services) and production process and centered on eco-friendly restructuring and
transformation, and to design products—the core of linear material metabolism—
in an ecological way. Circular economy goes beyond clean production on a higher
level and in a larger scope by pushing for the transformation toward an ecological
industrial system and the shift of consumption mode. In the new era of ecological
civilization, we must keep promoting clean production and circular economy, developing ecological industry and pushing the ecological renovation of industrial parks.
We must also strongly advance ecological agriculture, and promote green utilization
of traditional energies and the exploitation and use of renewable energies.
2. Consumption
Consumption is a downstream sector, where the waste would lead to the hundreds,
thousands or more times of waste in resource exploitation. China has a huge base
of consumers with a low-level yet polarized consumption pattern. The outline of the
12th Five-year Plan called for the formation of a civilized, economical, green and
low-carbon consumption concept and a green lifestyle and consumption mode suitable for our national conditions. This includes using water-saving products, energysaving cars and energy/land-saving housing, reducing the use of disposable goods,
restricting excessive packaging, controlling irrational consumption, and promoting
green government procurement.
We should oppose extravagance and waste and the pursuit for material luxury,
establish a moderate consumption scale, scientific consumption structure, fair
consumption principles and civilized consumption behaviors, and pursue ecological consumer goods and pollution-free results. Despite China’s vast territory and