Progress in and Prospects of the Reform …
623
functional zones are taking shape; pilot projects to replace multiple plans for local
development with one master plan have made important progress; and the spatial
planning system has begun to emerge.
Second, there are at least another four signs from a subjective point of view. (1)
People are more environment conscious. Government officials at all levels, especially
high-ranking ones, are no longer indifferent to, but valuing ecological conservation,
and thinking and acting in line with relevant instructions and documents. (2) People
are more proactive in ecological conservation. Instead of passive order-taking, people
have greater initiative and actively plan and implement the action plan for ecological
conservation. (3) People are paying more attention to the effect. People are no longer
going through the motions in protecting the environment, but earnestly studying
and implementing relevant documents. (4) The ecological conservation efforts are
more extensive and systematic, and the vision of ecological civilization has become
increasingly popular across different walks of society. Ecological conservation used
to be the job of the environmental protection department; now it has engaged almost
all departments, and is coordinated with the efforts to drive economic, social, cultural,
and political progress.
Third, logically speaking, the core sign is the application of concepts to practice. Ecological conservation involves many aspects such as ideology, institutions,
theories and practices. It is undeniable that in the field of ecological conservation,
innovation in theories lags behind that in practices, innovation in practices behind
institutional innovation, and institutional innovation behind innovation in ideology.
In other words, we have the most advanced concepts and the most rigorous institutions, but laggard practices and weak theoretical support. Strictly speaking, this is
not a normal logical relationship. On the other hand, it shows top leaders’ importance
attached to and deliberation on ecological conservation, and China’s unprecedented
intensity in reforming the system for developing an ecological civilization. In the
new era, especially after the 19th CPC National Congress, it is urgent to support new
concepts and institutions with innovation in theories and practices, and especially to
accelerate the application of advanced ideas to scientific practice.
The new era of ecological conservation raises new and higher requirements for
various groups of stakeholders. First, for government officials. It is required that
government officials at all levels, especially high-ranking ones, should take the initiative to closely follow the Party Central Committee, put the people at the center, and
place ecological conservation in an important position in the Party and government
agendas, and even top of the agenda in important ecological function areas and environmentally sensitive areas, and protect the environment while pursuing economic,
social, cultural progress and Party building. Government officials at all levels, especially high-ranking ones, must plan ecological conservation in a way responsible to
history, and formulate and implement mid-term and long-term ecological conservation plans, and see that a beautiful China is being built. They are required to
carefully formulate and fully implement a science-based, rational ecological conservation plan that respects, conforms to, and protects nature. They must refrain from
making frequent, unpredictable changes to existing policies, rushing to decisions or
623
functional zones are taking shape; pilot projects to replace multiple plans for local
development with one master plan have made important progress; and the spatial
planning system has begun to emerge.
Second, there are at least another four signs from a subjective point of view. (1)
People are more environment conscious. Government officials at all levels, especially
high-ranking ones, are no longer indifferent to, but valuing ecological conservation,
and thinking and acting in line with relevant instructions and documents. (2) People
are more proactive in ecological conservation. Instead of passive order-taking, people
have greater initiative and actively plan and implement the action plan for ecological
conservation. (3) People are paying more attention to the effect. People are no longer
going through the motions in protecting the environment, but earnestly studying
and implementing relevant documents. (4) The ecological conservation efforts are
more extensive and systematic, and the vision of ecological civilization has become
increasingly popular across different walks of society. Ecological conservation used
to be the job of the environmental protection department; now it has engaged almost
all departments, and is coordinated with the efforts to drive economic, social, cultural,
and political progress.
Third, logically speaking, the core sign is the application of concepts to practice. Ecological conservation involves many aspects such as ideology, institutions,
theories and practices. It is undeniable that in the field of ecological conservation,
innovation in theories lags behind that in practices, innovation in practices behind
institutional innovation, and institutional innovation behind innovation in ideology.
In other words, we have the most advanced concepts and the most rigorous institutions, but laggard practices and weak theoretical support. Strictly speaking, this is
not a normal logical relationship. On the other hand, it shows top leaders’ importance
attached to and deliberation on ecological conservation, and China’s unprecedented
intensity in reforming the system for developing an ecological civilization. In the
new era, especially after the 19th CPC National Congress, it is urgent to support new
concepts and institutions with innovation in theories and practices, and especially to
accelerate the application of advanced ideas to scientific practice.
The new era of ecological conservation raises new and higher requirements for
various groups of stakeholders. First, for government officials. It is required that
government officials at all levels, especially high-ranking ones, should take the initiative to closely follow the Party Central Committee, put the people at the center, and
place ecological conservation in an important position in the Party and government
agendas, and even top of the agenda in important ecological function areas and environmentally sensitive areas, and protect the environment while pursuing economic,
social, cultural progress and Party building. Government officials at all levels, especially high-ranking ones, must plan ecological conservation in a way responsible to
history, and formulate and implement mid-term and long-term ecological conservation plans, and see that a beautiful China is being built. They are required to
carefully formulate and fully implement a science-based, rational ecological conservation plan that respects, conforms to, and protects nature. They must refrain from
making frequent, unpredictable changes to existing policies, rushing to decisions or