Progress in and Prospects of the Reform …
625
for developing an ecological civilization, we shall implement Xi Jinping’s instruction that “a good ecological environment is the fairest public product, and the most
accessible welfare for the people.” We shall work harder to generate more ecological
dividends for the people, enhance their sense of gain, and make ecological dividends
a new green driving force for high-quality development in the new era. This requires
that the reform should stress the delivery of ecological dividends and the establishment of a sound incentive mechanism for ecological conservation. Fourth, while
promoting ecological conservation, we shall put into practice Xi Jinping’s holistic
and systematic view that “mountains, waters, forests, farmlands and lakes form a
living community” and the strict view to “implement the most rigorous ecological
and environmental protection system.” It is necessary to strengthen coordination and
cooperation between departments and localities under the common goals, and work
together to efficiently and sustainably promote ecological progress. This requires the
reform to go beyond departmental limits, to be locally universal and coordinated.
Meanwhile, it is necessary to promote the law-based reform of the system for developing an ecological civilization, and at the same time make necessary revisions and
improvements to existing laws and regulations that do not align with the environmental goals and requirements. Fifth, while dealing with the relationship between
domestic ecological conservation and global green or sustainable development, it
is necessary to uphold Xi Jinping’s national proposal for “jointly building a beautiful China” and win-win global proposal for “jointly seeking the path toward global
ecological conservation.” We must do our best in domestic ecological conservation
and meanwhile, work to fulfill our international obligations for green development,
especially responding to climate change, and strive to become an important participant, contributor and pioneer in the world’s green development, especially response
to climate change. This requires the reform to be universal and inclusive on a global
level.
3. Fully adapting to the new situation where “three phases” co-exists
At the National Conference on Eco-environmental Protection in May 2018, General
Secretary Xi Jinping made it clear that: The drive of ecological conservation has
entered a phase with mounting pressure and burden, a phase when more and better
ecological products are needed to meet the people’s growing demand for a beautiful
ecological environment, and a phase when conditions and capabilities are ready for
tackling outstanding ecological and environmental problems. The future reform of
the system for developing an ecological civilization must adapt to the new situation
where these three phases co-exist.
In the past five years, the reform has scored historic achievements, but also exposed
some problems which are mainly categorized into two kinds. First, problems with
the reform design. The reform design is undoubtedly scientific and effective on the
whole, but there are some shortcomings: (1) there are more restraints than incentives—the two should be equally important and we should in particular increase
the supply of market-oriented reform proposals. (2) The design should be more
targeted and problem oriented, and increase the supply of targeted proposals. (3)
625
for developing an ecological civilization, we shall implement Xi Jinping’s instruction that “a good ecological environment is the fairest public product, and the most
accessible welfare for the people.” We shall work harder to generate more ecological
dividends for the people, enhance their sense of gain, and make ecological dividends
a new green driving force for high-quality development in the new era. This requires
that the reform should stress the delivery of ecological dividends and the establishment of a sound incentive mechanism for ecological conservation. Fourth, while
promoting ecological conservation, we shall put into practice Xi Jinping’s holistic
and systematic view that “mountains, waters, forests, farmlands and lakes form a
living community” and the strict view to “implement the most rigorous ecological
and environmental protection system.” It is necessary to strengthen coordination and
cooperation between departments and localities under the common goals, and work
together to efficiently and sustainably promote ecological progress. This requires the
reform to go beyond departmental limits, to be locally universal and coordinated.
Meanwhile, it is necessary to promote the law-based reform of the system for developing an ecological civilization, and at the same time make necessary revisions and
improvements to existing laws and regulations that do not align with the environmental goals and requirements. Fifth, while dealing with the relationship between
domestic ecological conservation and global green or sustainable development, it
is necessary to uphold Xi Jinping’s national proposal for “jointly building a beautiful China” and win-win global proposal for “jointly seeking the path toward global
ecological conservation.” We must do our best in domestic ecological conservation
and meanwhile, work to fulfill our international obligations for green development,
especially responding to climate change, and strive to become an important participant, contributor and pioneer in the world’s green development, especially response
to climate change. This requires the reform to be universal and inclusive on a global
level.
3. Fully adapting to the new situation where “three phases” co-exists
At the National Conference on Eco-environmental Protection in May 2018, General
Secretary Xi Jinping made it clear that: The drive of ecological conservation has
entered a phase with mounting pressure and burden, a phase when more and better
ecological products are needed to meet the people’s growing demand for a beautiful
ecological environment, and a phase when conditions and capabilities are ready for
tackling outstanding ecological and environmental problems. The future reform of
the system for developing an ecological civilization must adapt to the new situation
where these three phases co-exist.
In the past five years, the reform has scored historic achievements, but also exposed
some problems which are mainly categorized into two kinds. First, problems with
the reform design. The reform design is undoubtedly scientific and effective on the
whole, but there are some shortcomings: (1) there are more restraints than incentives—the two should be equally important and we should in particular increase
the supply of market-oriented reform proposals. (2) The design should be more
targeted and problem oriented, and increase the supply of targeted proposals. (3)