The Ministry of Ecology and Environment published an article in Qiushi magazine

Accurately grasp the major relationships that need to be handled well to promote the construction of ecological civilization on the new journey

Ministry of Ecology and Environment

　　At the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection in July 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that to summarize the practical experience of the new era in the past 10 years, analyze the new situations and new problems currently faced, and continue to promote the construction of ecological civilization, we must be guided by the thought of socialist ecological civilization with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and correctly handle several major relationships, namely, the relationship between high-quality development and high-level protection, the relationship between key tackling and collaborative governance, the relationship between natural restoration and artificial restoration, the relationship between external constraints and endogenous power, and "double carbon" The relationship between commitment and autonomous action. The important exposition of the general secretary deepens and expands our party's understanding of the laws of ecological civilization construction, and is an important content of Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thought on new creation, new development and new achievements. We must deeply study and comprehend, plan and promote the ecological and environmental protection work on the new journey with a higher position, a wider vision and greater efforts, promote the coordination of local and global aspects, the integration of symptoms and root causes, and the combination of current and long-term, write a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization in the new era, and promote the goal of a beautiful China to become a reality step by step.

　　1. Properly handle the relationship between high-quality development and high-level protection

　　General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to plan development from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, continuously shape new momentum and new advantages for development through high-level protection, and strive to build a green and low-carbon circular economic system, effectively reduce the resource and environmental costs of development, and continue to enhance the potential and stamina of development. High-quality development and high-level protection are complementary and mutually reinforcing. High-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, a development that embodies the new development concept, and a development in which green becomes a universal form. High-level protection is an important support for high-quality development. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed that promoting green and low-carbon economic and social development is the key to achieving high-quality development. High-level protection can ensure the bottom line of high-quality development, promote the transformation and upgrading of industrial structure, energy structure, and transportation structure, and force the realization of high-quality development that prioritizes ecology and is green and low-carbon. At present, China's economic development has entered a stage of high-quality development that accelerates greening and low-carbonization, and the supporting role of high-level protection is more obvious.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has taken the construction of ecological civilization as a fundamental plan related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, and has carried out a series of pioneering work. In the magnificent practice, we have continuously deepened our understanding of the laws of ecological civilization construction, formed Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and realized a major transformation from practical exploration to scientific theoretical guidance. Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, we have implemented the requirements of green development in the whole process of economic and social development, and promoted the formation of a spatial pattern, industrial structure, production mode and lifestyle that conserves resources and protects the environment. Over the past 10 years, China's energy consumption growth rate of 3% per year has supported economic growth of more than 6% per year, and the energy intensity has decreased by 26.4%, making it one of the countries with the fastest reduction in energy intensity in the world. China has built the world's largest carbon market and clean power generation system, with the proportion of coal in energy consumption falling to 56.2% and the proportion of clean energy consumption increasing to 25.9%. The installed capacity of renewable energy accounts for 47.3% of the country's total installed power generation capacity, the installed capacity of hydropower, wind power, solar power generation and biomass power generation ranks first in the world, and the production and sales of new energy vehicles have ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years.

　　On October 12, 2023, the cumulative power generation of Baihetan Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River exceeded 100 billion kWh, which is equivalent to saving about 30.07 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 82.4 million tons. The picture shows the Baihetan Hydropower Station taken on October 12, 2023 (drone photo). Xinhua News Agency issued by Yan Keren/photo

　　At the same time, it should also be noted that the current overall level of green development in China is not high enough, the foundation is still relatively weak, energy demand will still maintain rigid growth, the situation of heavy industrial structure and coal-biased energy structure is difficult to completely change for a while, and the phenomenon of blindly launching "two high and one low" projects still exists. On the new journey, it is necessary to handle the relationship between high-quality development and high-level protection, adhere to ecological priority and green development, take the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction as the overall starting point, accelerate the formation of green development modes and lifestyles, promote development in the green and low-carbon transformation to achieve effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth, and support high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment. Strengthen the prevention of the source of the ecological environment, fully implement the requirements for the zoning and control of the ecological environment, scientifically guide all kinds of development, protection and construction activities, and strictly manage the access to the ecological environment, and must not sacrifice the ecological environment in exchange for temporary economic growth. Accelerate the green transformation and upgrading of industries, promote the research and development, promotion and application of green and low-carbon technologies, promote the healthy development of environmental protection industries and environmental services, further promote the development model of ecological environment, vigorously cultivate green economic growth points, and cultivate a green background for high-quality development.

　　Second, handle the relationship between key tackling and coordinated governance

　　General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to adhere to the system concept, grasp the main contradictions and the main aspects of the contradictions, and take effective measures to highlight ecological and environmental problems. Dealing with the relationship between key tackling and collaborative governance is not only the deepening application of the system concept in the specific practice of ecological civilization construction, but also the concrete embodiment of key breakthroughs and comprehensive promotion of work ideas. The complexity of environmental elements, the integrity of the ecosystem, the continuity of the natural geographical unit, and the sustainability of economic and social development determine that the ecological environmental protection must adhere to the system concept and collaborative governance. This requires us to take effective measures to address outstanding ecological and environmental problems in key areas, key areas and key links, and at the same time do a good job of overall coordination, coordinate industrial structure adjustment, pollution control, ecological protection, and respond to climate change, and carry out the construction of ecological civilization in an all-round, all-regional, and whole-process manner.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have started by solving outstanding ecological and environmental problems, focusing on the combination of points and areas, treating both the symptoms and the root causes, and realizing a major transformation from key rectification to systematic governance. With the strong determination and effective measures of dispelling the disease with fierce medicine and reinforcing the law to control chaos, we have resolutely investigated and dealt with a number of major typical cases of damage to the ecological environment, solved a number of outstanding ecological and environmental problems that the people have strongly resented, and concentrated our efforts on fighting the battle to defend the blue sky, clear water, and pure land, thus effectively curbing the deterioration of the ecological environment. In the past 10 years, the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has historically reached 29 micrograms per cubic meter, the annual average concentration in key cities has dropped by 57%, the number of heavily polluted days has dropped by 93%, and the proportion of days with good air quality in cities at and above the prefecture level has reached 86.5%, making it the country with the fastest improvement rate of air quality in the world. The proportion of excellent surface water bodies in the country has reached 87.9%, and the black and odorous water bodies in cities at and above the prefecture level have been basically eliminated. The proportion of good water quality in coastal waters increased by 17.6 percentage points. Soil environmental risks have been effectively controlled, and the goal of "zero import" of solid waste has been achieved as scheduled, which is most directly felt by the people and widely recognized by the international community.

　　At the same time, it should also be noted that the structural, root cause, and trend pressures on China's ecological and environmental protection have not been fundamentally alleviated, the total amount of pollutants and carbon emissions is still at a high level, the historical arrears of environmental protection have not been paid off, and the foundation for the stability and improvement of the quality of the ecological environment is not stable. On the new journey, it is necessary to deal with the relationship between key tackling and coordinated governance, take improving the quality of the ecological environment as the core, adhere to precise pollution control, scientific pollution control, and pollution control in accordance with the law, continue to fight the tough battle of pollution prevention and control, and promote pollution prevention and control to achieve new breakthroughs in key areas, important fields, and key indicators. Intensify efforts to solve outstanding ecological and environmental problems, focus on the control of fine particulate matter, strengthen the coordinated control of multiple pollutants and regional pollution, coordinate the promotion of water resources, water environment, and water ecological governance, strengthen soil pollution risk control, strengthen the comprehensive management of solid waste and new pollutants, and continuously improve the people's sense of ecological and environmental gain, happiness, and security. Adhere to green and low-carbon development as a fundamental policy to solve ecological and environmental problems, and work together to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, and strive to achieve a win-win situation of ecological, economic, and social benefits.

　　3. Handle the relationship between natural restoration and artificial restoration

　　General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to adhere to the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sands, build a general pattern of protection and governance from the top of the mountain to the sea, comprehensively use natural restoration and artificial restoration, and implement policies according to local conditions and time conditions, zoning and classification, and strive to find the best solution for ecological protection and restoration. Dealing with the relationship between natural restoration and artificial restoration is a practical requirement for actively and effectively carrying out ecological protection and restoration in accordance with the laws of nature. A natural ecosystem is an organic life body with the ability to self-regulate, purify, and self-restore. To heal the harm caused by human beings to nature, we must first respect and conform to nature, and give nature enough time and space to recuperate. At the same time, there are limitations and limits to natural restoration, and it is necessary to give full play to human subjective initiative, take scientific and reasonable artificial restoration measures, and accelerate the process of ecosystem restoration.

　　In recent years, the management department of Miyun Reservoir of Beijing Municipal Water Affairs Bureau has vigorously carried out water ecological protection and restoration and ecological environment management based on natural restoration and artificial restoration, promoted the fine management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasses, improved the richness of biodiversity in the reservoir area, provided a high-quality living environment for animals and plants, and improved the ecological environment and water quality of Miyun Reservoir. The picture shows swans roosting and foraging in the Qingshui River in the Miyun Reservoir basin on November 15, 2022. Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xin/photo

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have coordinated the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sands, accelerated the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as the main body, strengthened ecological protection and supervision measures, and built a solid ecological security barrier for the motherland. In the past 10 years, a total of 278 million mu of desertification prevention and control and 600 million mu of grass planting and improvement have been completed, taking the lead in the world to achieve a "double reduction" of desertified land and desertified land. More than 50 integrated protection and restoration projects of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sands have been implemented, and the area of nature reserves and terrestrial ecological protection redlines account for more than 18% and 30% of the land area respectively. A total of 1.02 billion mu of forests have been planted, and the forest coverage rate has increased to 24.02%, making it the country with the largest and fastest growth of forest resources and the largest area of artificial afforestation in the world. The first batch of five national parks was established, and the first national botanical garden and germplasm resource bank were established. The wild populations of more than 300 species of rare and endangered wild animals and plants have increased steadily.

　　At the same time, it should also be noted that China's ecosystem is fragile, the overall level of ecosystem quality is still low, serious ecological damage still occurs from time to time, and the trend of biodiversity loss has not been effectively curbed. On the new journey, it is necessary to deal with the relationship between natural restoration and artificial restoration, comprehensively use natural restoration and artificial restoration, persistently promote ecological construction, and strive to improve the diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem. Promote the implementation of major projects for the protection and restoration of important ecosystems, and improve the construction of the system of nature reserves. Earnestly strengthen the supervision of ecological protection and restoration, strengthen the supervision and law enforcement of nature reserves and ecological protection redlines, increase the supervision and investigation of ecological damage, carry out evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological protection and restoration, and resolutely put an end to formalism in ecological restoration. Implement major projects for biodiversity conservation, and actively lead the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We will further promote the demonstration and creation of ecological civilization, and continuously broaden the path for transforming lucid waters and lush mountains into gold and silver mountains.

　　Fourth, handle the relationship between external constraints and endogenous power

　　General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that we must always adhere to the strictest system and the strictest rule of law to protect the ecological environment, maintain normalized external pressure, and at the same time stimulate the endogenous power of the whole society to jointly care for the ecological environment. Properly handling the relationship between external constraints and endogenous motivation embodies the requirements of dialectical unity, interconnection and mutual transformation between external and internal factors. A good ecological environment is the fairest public good and the most inclusive of people's livelihood and well-being, and it is necessary to give full play to the maximum effect of this public good and prevent excessive extortion and wanton destruction. It is necessary not only to continuously improve the legal system of ecological environmental protection, strong supervision, strict law enforcement, and serious accountability, so that the system can become an untouchable high-voltage line, but also to continuously innovate the system and mechanism, so that the protectors and contributors can truly benefit, promote everyone to do their best, everyone is responsible, and make the protection of the ecological environment a conscious action of all responsible subjects.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have insisted on changing our concepts, consolidating our responsibilities, and continuously enhancing the consciousness and initiative of the whole party and society to promote the construction of ecological civilization, so as to achieve a major transformation from passive response to active action. Improve the legal system for ecological and environmental protection, formulate and revise more than 30 relevant laws and administrative regulations, and form a "1+N+4" socialist legal system for ecological and environmental protection with Chinese characteristics. We have deepened the reform of the ecological civilization system, formulated dozens of reform plans, and basically formed an institutional system of the "four beams and eight pillars" nature of ecological civilization. Establish and improve the evaluation and assessment system for the construction of ecological civilization, the pollutant discharge permit system, the ecological protection red line system, and the system of "the same responsibility of the party and the government" and "one post with two responsibilities" for ecological environmental protection. Carrying out two rounds of central ecological and environmental protection inspections has become a hard move to promote local party committees, governments and their relevant departments to implement ecological and environmental protection responsibilities.

　　At the same time, it should also be noted that China's ecological and environmental governance system still needs to be improved, some local ecological and environmental supervision is superficial, supervision is not in place, some enterprises have weak legal awareness, and there are problems such as improper operation of pollution control facilities, excessive emissions, and falsification of monitoring data. On the new journey, it is necessary to deal with the relationship between external constraints and endogenous power, do a good job in the rule of law, market, science and technology, and policy "combination punch", and accelerate the improvement of the modern environmental governance system led by the party committee, led by the government, and participated by the main body of enterprises, social organizations and the public. We will continue to give full play to the role of the central ecological and environmental protection inspectors, put a strict tone and problem orientation throughout, and further tighten and consolidate the political responsibility of party committees and governments at all levels for ecological and environmental protection. Continue to promote the formulation and revision of laws and regulations in key areas, establish, improve and strictly enforce ecological and environmental laws and regulations, strengthen law enforcement and supervision, and maintain a high-pressure posture on environmental pollution and ecological damage. Fully implement the pollutant discharge permit system, and deepen the reform of the vertical management system of monitoring, supervision and law enforcement of ecological and environmental institutions below the provincial level. Implement major actions for scientific and technological innovation in the ecological environment, accelerate the establishment of a modern ecological environment monitoring system, and improve the efficiency of ecological and environmental supervision. Improve the compensation mechanism for ecological protection and the value realization mechanism of ecological products, strengthen green fiscal, tax and financial policies, and allow business entities to obtain reasonable returns in protecting the ecological environment. Vigorously promote the concept of ecological civilization, cultivate ecological culture, make green and low-carbon lifestyles become customs, and make the construction of a beautiful China a conscious action of all people.

　　Fifth, handle the relationship between the "dual carbon" commitment and independent action

　　General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that the "dual carbon" goal we have committed to is unswerving, but the path and method, rhythm and intensity to achieve this goal should and must be determined by ourselves, and will never be influenced by others. Properly handling the relationship between the "dual carbon" commitment and independent action reflects the organic unity of stability and progress, and emphasizes that the goals and tasks of carbon peak and carbon neutrality that we have committed to are unequivocal, our attitude and determination are unwavering, and our actions and strategies are positive and prudent. Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee after careful consideration, a solemn commitment to the international community, and an inherent requirement to promote the transformation and upgrading of the economic structure, form a competitive advantage in green and low-carbon industries, and achieve high-quality development. It's not someone else who wants us to do it, it's something we have to do. At the same time, to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality, we must not wait and urgent, and it is impossible to complete the work in one battle, we must be based on the actual national conditions, adhere to the first establishment and then the breakthrough, seek progress while maintaining stability, and gradually realize.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have completely, accurately and comprehensively implemented the new development concept, incorporated carbon peaking and carbon neutrality into the overall economic and social development and the overall layout of ecological civilization construction, adhered to the principles of national overall planning, conservation priority, two-wheel drive, internal and external smoothness, and risk prevention, established a "1+N" policy system for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and promoted local and related industries to carry out carbon peaking actions. We will improve the statistical accounting system for carbon emissions, improve the carbon emission market trading system, and launch and stabilize the world's largest carbon market, covering about 4.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. In the past 10 years, China's carbon emission intensity has dropped by more than 35%, reversing the rapid growth of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2020, China's carbon dioxide emission intensity decreased by 48.4% compared with 2005, exceeding the commitment of the first phase of the Nationally Determined Contributions. We keep up with the times and look to the world, assume the responsibilities of a major country, deeply participate in global climate governance, promote the conclusion, signing, entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement, and achieve a major transformation from a participant in global environmental governance to a leader.

　　At the same time, it should also be noted that achieving the "dual carbon" goal is a broad and profound economic and social systemic change, which is not easy to achieve, but requires continuous and hard work. At present, the politicization of global ecological and environmental issues is increasing, and some Western countries are playing the "climate card" and introducing policies such as carbon tariffs to shift the responsibility of emission reduction to developing countries. On the new journey, it is necessary to handle the relationship between the "dual carbon" commitment and independent action, implement the "1+N" policy system for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and implement the carbon peak action step by step in a planned manner. Strengthen the clean and efficient use of coal, and build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. Promote the gradual shift from "dual control" of energy consumption to "dual control" of carbon emissions, and improve the carbon emission market trading system. Promote synergies in pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and carry out multi-field and multi-level collaborative innovation pilots. We should take a more active stance in global climate governance and strive for strategic initiative and an international environment that is favorable to us.