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Y. Wang
We should be aware that sufficient emphasis must be laid on top-level design rather
than department-led initiatives when promoting the reform and development of an
ecological civilization system. Therefore, it is necessary to build a comprehensive
ecological civilization governance system, further strengthen overall coordination,
timely summarize the problems and lessons of pilot projects, solicit opinions from
various stakeholders, and avoid simply breaking down overall reform targets to form
departmental targets. We should also prevent departments from using ecological
civilization development as an excuse for putting departmental interests first, which
goes against the purpose of the ecological civilization system reform.
3. Basic principles for building an environmental governance system
As mentioned above, building an ecological civilization system is a long-term task.
We should maintain a fully science-based approach and hold firmly onto the strategic
focus and priority areas, make a clear timetable and roadmap, improve important
existing mechanisms, accelerate the development of relatively mature mechanisms,
identify and fully investigate controversies, strengthen overall coordination and hierarchical classification, and promote the development of the ecological civilization
system in an orderly manner.
Based on the basic theories of modern ecology, economics and management
science, the experience of environmental protection in developed countries, the characteristics of modern environmental governance systems, and the current goals and
requirements set by the Chinese government for the modern environmental governance system, the development of the environmental governance system should
follow the principles set out below:
(1) We should assign roles and responsibilities and reshape the mindset of governance authorities on the premise of a balance between development and environmental protection. The relationship between development and environmental protection is not only the most important relationship in relation to
China’s environmental protection, but also a relationship that is very tricky to
deal with. In developing countries, neither side should be neglected. It is necessary to set this balance as an important part of the goal of the environmental
governance system. The government needs to fully consider the requirements
of environmental protection when allocating public management responsibilities, managing budgets and developing the evaluation system for government
officials, and establish a comprehensive decision-making mechanism for maintaining balance between development and environmental protection. Similarly,
enterprises need to strike a balance between pursuing corporate interests and
protecting public environmental interests, and comply with relevant national
laws and standards and assume corporate social responsibilities. The public
should actively participate in environmental protection activities and adopt
sustainable and green lifestyles.
(2) We should reasonably allocate responsibilities and resources based on the principle that the government, enterprises and the public should share responsibilities for the environment. The government, enterprises and the public are the
Y. Wang
We should be aware that sufficient emphasis must be laid on top-level design rather
than department-led initiatives when promoting the reform and development of an
ecological civilization system. Therefore, it is necessary to build a comprehensive
ecological civilization governance system, further strengthen overall coordination,
timely summarize the problems and lessons of pilot projects, solicit opinions from
various stakeholders, and avoid simply breaking down overall reform targets to form
departmental targets. We should also prevent departments from using ecological
civilization development as an excuse for putting departmental interests first, which
goes against the purpose of the ecological civilization system reform.
3. Basic principles for building an environmental governance system
As mentioned above, building an ecological civilization system is a long-term task.
We should maintain a fully science-based approach and hold firmly onto the strategic
focus and priority areas, make a clear timetable and roadmap, improve important
existing mechanisms, accelerate the development of relatively mature mechanisms,
identify and fully investigate controversies, strengthen overall coordination and hierarchical classification, and promote the development of the ecological civilization
system in an orderly manner.
Based on the basic theories of modern ecology, economics and management
science, the experience of environmental protection in developed countries, the characteristics of modern environmental governance systems, and the current goals and
requirements set by the Chinese government for the modern environmental governance system, the development of the environmental governance system should
follow the principles set out below:
(1) We should assign roles and responsibilities and reshape the mindset of governance authorities on the premise of a balance between development and environmental protection. The relationship between development and environmental protection is not only the most important relationship in relation to
China’s environmental protection, but also a relationship that is very tricky to
deal with. In developing countries, neither side should be neglected. It is necessary to set this balance as an important part of the goal of the environmental
governance system. The government needs to fully consider the requirements
of environmental protection when allocating public management responsibilities, managing budgets and developing the evaluation system for government
officials, and establish a comprehensive decision-making mechanism for maintaining balance between development and environmental protection. Similarly,
enterprises need to strike a balance between pursuing corporate interests and
protecting public environmental interests, and comply with relevant national
laws and standards and assume corporate social responsibilities. The public
should actively participate in environmental protection activities and adopt
sustainable and green lifestyles.
(2) We should reasonably allocate responsibilities and resources based on the principle that the government, enterprises and the public should share responsibilities for the environment. The government, enterprises and the public are the