618
M. Shen
To advance the reform of the system for developing an ecological civilization,
we must recognize that economic growth and ecological protection are in a unity
of opposites. Without a good ecological environment, there will be no natural basis
for economic growth. Therefore, ecological protection should be the prerequisite for
economic growth. On the other hand, without economic growth, ecological protection won’t sustain, so protecting the ecological environment doesn’t mean stopping economic growth. We need to balance economic growth and environmental
protection to realize green development that benefits both the environment and the
economy.
While advancing the reform of the system, we must understand the ecological threshold, environmental threshold and climate threshold. When the ecological
damage reaches a certain threshold, it will irreversibly lead to the degradation of
the ecosystem. When the environmental pollution reaches a certain threshold, it will
irreversibly lead to a decline in environmental quality. When the greenhouse gas emissions reach a certain threshold, it will irreversibly lead to climate warming. Therefore,
we must strictly cap water intake, pollutant discharge, and carbon emissions, in order
to realize the sustainable utilization of natural resources, environmental resources and
climate resources, ecological balance and environmental improvement.
While advancing the reform of the system, we must also realize that “growth—
pollution—protective growth” is a negation of negation, and so is “environmental
protection—slower growth—better growth.” Therefore, we must constantly seek
innovation and change the cage for birds. To this end, it is necessary to adopt green
innovative technologies and institutions, and use innovation to drive development
and transformation.
3. Promoting the establishment of an overall framework for the reform of the
system in China
Xi Jinping’s important statements on the reform of the system for developing an
ecological civilization have promoted the establishment of an overall framework for
the reform of the system in China.
The reform of the system has put an end to the decentralization of powers and
realized coordinated governance, i.e., the coordinated governance of water supply and
pollution control, shore and water, surface and underground water, and fresh water
and sea water. It has separated ownership from the administrative power, which leads
to more efficient allocation of natural resources, environmental resources and climate
resources. It has also separated “players” and “referees” and created a mutually
restrictive power structure through labor division.
The mechanism design for developing an ecological civilization has transitioned
from ecological and environmental management to governance. The government,
enterprises, and the public participate in the construction of ecological civilization as
equals. The environmental governance system is basically formed, and the capability
significantly enhanced. The market mechanism, government mechanism, and social
mechanism are no longer independent from each other, but rather collaborating and
restraining each other based on clear division of labor. It has also shifted from focus
M. Shen
To advance the reform of the system for developing an ecological civilization,
we must recognize that economic growth and ecological protection are in a unity
of opposites. Without a good ecological environment, there will be no natural basis
for economic growth. Therefore, ecological protection should be the prerequisite for
economic growth. On the other hand, without economic growth, ecological protection won’t sustain, so protecting the ecological environment doesn’t mean stopping economic growth. We need to balance economic growth and environmental
protection to realize green development that benefits both the environment and the
economy.
While advancing the reform of the system, we must understand the ecological threshold, environmental threshold and climate threshold. When the ecological
damage reaches a certain threshold, it will irreversibly lead to the degradation of
the ecosystem. When the environmental pollution reaches a certain threshold, it will
irreversibly lead to a decline in environmental quality. When the greenhouse gas emissions reach a certain threshold, it will irreversibly lead to climate warming. Therefore,
we must strictly cap water intake, pollutant discharge, and carbon emissions, in order
to realize the sustainable utilization of natural resources, environmental resources and
climate resources, ecological balance and environmental improvement.
While advancing the reform of the system, we must also realize that “growth—
pollution—protective growth” is a negation of negation, and so is “environmental
protection—slower growth—better growth.” Therefore, we must constantly seek
innovation and change the cage for birds. To this end, it is necessary to adopt green
innovative technologies and institutions, and use innovation to drive development
and transformation.
3. Promoting the establishment of an overall framework for the reform of the
system in China
Xi Jinping’s important statements on the reform of the system for developing an
ecological civilization have promoted the establishment of an overall framework for
the reform of the system in China.
The reform of the system has put an end to the decentralization of powers and
realized coordinated governance, i.e., the coordinated governance of water supply and
pollution control, shore and water, surface and underground water, and fresh water
and sea water. It has separated ownership from the administrative power, which leads
to more efficient allocation of natural resources, environmental resources and climate
resources. It has also separated “players” and “referees” and created a mutually
restrictive power structure through labor division.
The mechanism design for developing an ecological civilization has transitioned
from ecological and environmental management to governance. The government,
enterprises, and the public participate in the construction of ecological civilization as
equals. The environmental governance system is basically formed, and the capability
significantly enhanced. The market mechanism, government mechanism, and social
mechanism are no longer independent from each other, but rather collaborating and
restraining each other based on clear division of labor. It has also shifted from focus