Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development …
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key stakeholders in a modern environmental governance system. Based on the
modern governance theory and international experience, it is necessary to regulate the rights and obligations of key stakeholders in environmental governance
in accordance with the law, and to rationally set up the three regulatory mechanisms for government regulation, market allocation and public participation in
environmental governance in order to produce synergy. Currently, the Chinese
government’s environmental governance functions are quite clearly defined.
Once the government effectively performs its functions, the next step is to
focus on building the power of enterprises, NGOs and individual citizens and
letting them fully play their roles by reforming the decision-making process
and leveraging the market mechanism.
(3) We should analyze the characteristics and problems of natural ecosystems and
how they evolve, and on this basis reform and improve our environmental
protection system and mechanisms. The goal of the environmental governance
system is to properly handle the relationship between man and nature, and
between people. We must respect the characteristics and the pattern of evolution of ecosystems when promoting the development of the environmental
protection system and mechanisms. A natural ecosystem demonstrates spatial
integrity after long-term evolution. That is, living organisms and their environment form an integral whole. Environmental problems caused by social
and economic activities of human beings grow into local, regional and global
problems.
Based on this, to create an environmental governance system, it is necessary to
consider not only the overall characteristics of the environment, but also the natural,
social and regional characteristics of the various elements of an ecosystem (water,
soil, air, etc.). We should consider the economic nature and ecological and public
good nature of natural resources and ecosystem services. In the meantime, we should
also consider both the quantity and quality of environmental resources, as well as the
externalities and public good nature of ecological goods and services. Other factors
that need to be considered include the scales of time and space that we are dealing
with, i.e. whether they are global, regional, or local, as well as what functions they
perform, at what time, and how to coordinate for a solution of various existing environmental problems. For example, it will not do to simply put the management of
biological resources and mineral resources together. Another example to the point is
water management. Water not only serves as fresh water resources, but also can be
used for power generation and provide various ecological services. Environmental
issues concerning water involve both water quality and spatial distribution. We need
to adopt a holistic approach to water resource management. As for waste management, we should consider classification, recycling, and the final disposal of waste
in order to gain more with less effort. Therefore, we must, on the basis of fully
understanding relevant laws, carefully define the roles and understand the limitations of the government and the market, and design sound environmental protection
and governance systems and mechanisms accordingly.
67
key stakeholders in a modern environmental governance system. Based on the
modern governance theory and international experience, it is necessary to regulate the rights and obligations of key stakeholders in environmental governance
in accordance with the law, and to rationally set up the three regulatory mechanisms for government regulation, market allocation and public participation in
environmental governance in order to produce synergy. Currently, the Chinese
government’s environmental governance functions are quite clearly defined.
Once the government effectively performs its functions, the next step is to
focus on building the power of enterprises, NGOs and individual citizens and
letting them fully play their roles by reforming the decision-making process
and leveraging the market mechanism.
(3) We should analyze the characteristics and problems of natural ecosystems and
how they evolve, and on this basis reform and improve our environmental
protection system and mechanisms. The goal of the environmental governance
system is to properly handle the relationship between man and nature, and
between people. We must respect the characteristics and the pattern of evolution of ecosystems when promoting the development of the environmental
protection system and mechanisms. A natural ecosystem demonstrates spatial
integrity after long-term evolution. That is, living organisms and their environment form an integral whole. Environmental problems caused by social
and economic activities of human beings grow into local, regional and global
problems.
Based on this, to create an environmental governance system, it is necessary to
consider not only the overall characteristics of the environment, but also the natural,
social and regional characteristics of the various elements of an ecosystem (water,
soil, air, etc.). We should consider the economic nature and ecological and public
good nature of natural resources and ecosystem services. In the meantime, we should
also consider both the quantity and quality of environmental resources, as well as the
externalities and public good nature of ecological goods and services. Other factors
that need to be considered include the scales of time and space that we are dealing
with, i.e. whether they are global, regional, or local, as well as what functions they
perform, at what time, and how to coordinate for a solution of various existing environmental problems. For example, it will not do to simply put the management of
biological resources and mineral resources together. Another example to the point is
water management. Water not only serves as fresh water resources, but also can be
used for power generation and provide various ecological services. Environmental
issues concerning water involve both water quality and spatial distribution. We need
to adopt a holistic approach to water resource management. As for waste management, we should consider classification, recycling, and the final disposal of waste
in order to gain more with less effort. Therefore, we must, on the basis of fully
understanding relevant laws, carefully define the roles and understand the limitations of the government and the market, and design sound environmental protection
and governance systems and mechanisms accordingly.