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H. Zhou
shifted from relying on the exploitation and utilization of natural resources to the
utilization of both natural and recycled resources. This is an intensive growth pattern
following the cycle of “resources—products—scraps—recycled resources.”
Low-carbon economy is an economic growth pattern characterized by low energy
consumption, low pollution and low emission. Its core is the innovation of energy
technologies, innovation of systems, and the fundamental change of human view
on survival and development, involving the reform of production mode, lifestyle
and values. The British energy white paper—Our Energy Future: Creating a Low
Carbon Economy—published in 2003 defined low-carbon economy as follows:
higher resource productivity—producing more with fewer natural resources and less
pollution—will contribute to higher living standards and a better quality of life, the
opportunity to develop, apply and export leading-edge technologies, creating new
businesses and jobs. Through favorable tax and financing policies, we should guide
private investors to increase the input in the R&D of low-carbon technologies, and
energetically develop industries focused on biomass energy, solar power, wind power,
energy-saving equipment, hydro power, and environmental protection.
Green development is one of the new development concepts. Green development
is a kind of development respecting the restraint imposed by resource and environment’s carrying capacity, and a sustainable mode of production and consumption.
There is no substitute for the current ecological environment. When we use it, we take
it for granted. But once damaged, it will struggle to recover. As the Chinese economy
is shifting from high-speed growth to high-quality development, green development
has become a common consensus. In building a moderately prosperous society in all
respect, we cannot give up development in order to protect the environment and guard
the “lucid waters and lush mountains.” Nor can we repeat the old path of “governance after pollution” or “pollution and governance in parallel,” still less live on what
our ancestors have created while burning the bridges for later generations. Instead,
we should adjust the industrial structure, foster new drivers and change the traditional production and consumption pattern featuring “massive production, massive
consumption and massive emission.” The path of green, low-carbon and sustainable
development has to be upheld to realize socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics where economic and social development complies with environmental
protection and man and nature co-exist in harmony.
The relation between current construction and long-term development should be
properly handled. We should bear in mind the current conditions as well as future
development, short-term planning as well as long-term arrangements. We should also
take forceful and effective actions to resolve pressing environmental issues, as well
as keeping environmental pollution from affecting public health and ecosystem on
the principle of “prevention first.” On the one hand, we, eyeing the goal of building a
moderately prosperous society in all respects, shall perform the ecological civilization
tasks for the next five years set out in the report of the 19th CPC National Congress.
That is to develop spatial layouts, industrial structures, and ways of work and life
that help conserve resources and protect the environment. On the other hand, eyeing
the Chinese dream of building a socialist modern power and reviving the Chinese
nation, we shall work out the strategic goals, principles and paths for ecological
H. Zhou
shifted from relying on the exploitation and utilization of natural resources to the
utilization of both natural and recycled resources. This is an intensive growth pattern
following the cycle of “resources—products—scraps—recycled resources.”
Low-carbon economy is an economic growth pattern characterized by low energy
consumption, low pollution and low emission. Its core is the innovation of energy
technologies, innovation of systems, and the fundamental change of human view
on survival and development, involving the reform of production mode, lifestyle
and values. The British energy white paper—Our Energy Future: Creating a Low
Carbon Economy—published in 2003 defined low-carbon economy as follows:
higher resource productivity—producing more with fewer natural resources and less
pollution—will contribute to higher living standards and a better quality of life, the
opportunity to develop, apply and export leading-edge technologies, creating new
businesses and jobs. Through favorable tax and financing policies, we should guide
private investors to increase the input in the R&D of low-carbon technologies, and
energetically develop industries focused on biomass energy, solar power, wind power,
energy-saving equipment, hydro power, and environmental protection.
Green development is one of the new development concepts. Green development
is a kind of development respecting the restraint imposed by resource and environment’s carrying capacity, and a sustainable mode of production and consumption.
There is no substitute for the current ecological environment. When we use it, we take
it for granted. But once damaged, it will struggle to recover. As the Chinese economy
is shifting from high-speed growth to high-quality development, green development
has become a common consensus. In building a moderately prosperous society in all
respect, we cannot give up development in order to protect the environment and guard
the “lucid waters and lush mountains.” Nor can we repeat the old path of “governance after pollution” or “pollution and governance in parallel,” still less live on what
our ancestors have created while burning the bridges for later generations. Instead,
we should adjust the industrial structure, foster new drivers and change the traditional production and consumption pattern featuring “massive production, massive
consumption and massive emission.” The path of green, low-carbon and sustainable
development has to be upheld to realize socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics where economic and social development complies with environmental
protection and man and nature co-exist in harmony.
The relation between current construction and long-term development should be
properly handled. We should bear in mind the current conditions as well as future
development, short-term planning as well as long-term arrangements. We should also
take forceful and effective actions to resolve pressing environmental issues, as well
as keeping environmental pollution from affecting public health and ecosystem on
the principle of “prevention first.” On the one hand, we, eyeing the goal of building a
moderately prosperous society in all respects, shall perform the ecological civilization
tasks for the next five years set out in the report of the 19th CPC National Congress.
That is to develop spatial layouts, industrial structures, and ways of work and life
that help conserve resources and protect the environment. On the other hand, eyeing
the Chinese dream of building a socialist modern power and reviving the Chinese
nation, we shall work out the strategic goals, principles and paths for ecological