Article of this newspaper: How to build the pilot free trade zone into a green and low-carbon development highland?

The "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Beautiful China" issued a few days ago pointed out that it is necessary to create a demonstration model for the construction of a beautiful China, carry out innovative demonstrations, and encourage green innovation in the pilot free trade zone. The author believes that it is particularly important to promote the deep integration of the open and ecological advantages of the pilot free trade zone, and build the pilot free trade zone into a green and low-carbon development highland, which will help accelerate the formation of a new pattern of beautiful China oriented to the realization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and build a solid ecological foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the future, we can continue to make efforts in the following aspects to empower the high-level construction of the pilot free trade zone with green innovation.

Adhere to the core of green and low-carbon development, and do a solid and detailed top-level design of the pilot free trade zone system. Anchoring the goal of building a beautiful China, we will maintain the green, safe and sustainable development foundation of the pilot free trade zone with blue sky, clear water and pure land. Actively and steadily promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality, innovate ecological and environmental management models and systems, and take the "Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Ecological and Environmental Protection in Pilot Free Trade Zones and Promoting High-quality Development" (Huan Zong [2021] No. 44) as the action guide and main line of work, promote the coordinated development of trade, investment and ecological environmental protection, and coordinate the promotion of industrial structure adjustment, pollution control, ecological protection and response to climate change. Accelerate the development of green industrial pollution reduction and carbon reduction transformation, promote the high-end industrial structure, low-carbon energy consumption, resource recycling, and clean production process, comprehensively enhance the "green reputation" of the pilot free trade zone, and accelerate the cultivation of new momentum for the green development of foreign trade.

Industrial ecology and ecological industrialization should be carried out simultaneously to form a new path for the green rise of the pilot free trade zone. Give full play to the first goose effect of the pilot free trade zone of "testing the system for the country, exploring new paths for opening up, and seeking development for the locality", focus on the development of green trade and climate investment and financing, actively promote the improvement of the quality and efficiency of ecological and environmental protection in the region, and cultivate the formation of a climate-friendly industrial structure, production mode and consumption mode with high scientific and technological content, low resource consumption, low environmental pollution, and climate-friendly. Strengthen resource conservation, intensive recycling, and efficient utilization, continuously improve the "green benefits per mu" of the pilot free trade zone, and promote the continuous improvement of the ecological environment and production and living supporting environment in the pilot free trade zone. Taking the opportunity of building a unified national market, we will promote the efficient flow of green products, services and production factors such as capital, technology, and personnel, and strive to form a number of replicable and promotable management and institutional innovation achievements in the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, international cooperation in ecological and environmental protection, and global environmental governance, so as to continuously cultivate and expand the new quality productivity of the construction of a beautiful China. Strengthen the management of energy conservation in the whole process, further improve the level of opening up in the field of energy conservation and environmental protection, and encourage the pilot free trade zone to actively expand the import of advanced ecological environment management and low-carbon technologies and equipment, as well as the import of productive services such as R&D and design of environmental protection facilities and comprehensive environmental management services. Support leading enterprises in the pilot free trade zone to build a green supply network, improve the green level of the entire industrial chain and supply chain, and explore the establishment of a green procurement index system. Resolutely curb the blind development of high-pollution, high-energy, and high-water-consumption projects in the pilot free trade zone, and make carbon emissions and water consumption become rigid constraints on industrial layout. Encourage the construction of "near-zero-carbon", "zero-carbon" and "carbon-negative" emission demonstration projects in free trade zones with a good foundation, comprehensively calculate the carbon sink and carbon sequestration capacity of the pilot free trade zone, and create a deep decarbonization pilot zone. Strengthen the treatment of solid waste and new pollutants, refer to the mature experience gained in the construction of "zero-waste cities" at home and abroad, explore the creation of "zero-waste pilot free trade zones", and support the use of green and low-carbon supply chains to rigidly restrict the intensity of solid waste generation.

Strengthen the capacity of open supervision and risk prevention and control, and build a new pattern of green, low-carbon and safe development in the pilot free trade zone. Implement the overall national security concept, use the new security pattern to ensure the new development pattern, and coordinate the country's economic and ecological security. It is necessary to do a good job in the access to the ecological environment, and resolutely safeguard the national ecological security and ecological environment under the current free trade zone management model of "opening up the first line and controlling the second line safely and efficiently outside the border".sovereignty。 Strengthen the basic capacity building of dual control of carbon emissions, establish and improve the environmental credit evaluation system, implement the climate and environmental information disclosure system, and do a good job in the accounting of carbon emissions from import and export activities in the pilot free trade zone and the preparation of "carbon budgets". Efforts should be made to build an ecological security system and supporting assessment mechanism in the pilot free trade zone, focusing on the virtuous cycle of ecosystems and effective prevention and control of environmental risks. Build a digital governance system for Beautiful China, introduce digital and intelligent technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, industrial Internet, and big data, strengthen intelligent, refined, and transparent environmental management, build a comprehensive supervision platform for smart environmental protection in the pilot free trade zone, activate the potential of data element resources in environmental governance, and contribute to the construction of a green and intelligent digital ecological civilization. Establish and improve the early warning and response mechanism for green trade barriers, and prevent some developed countries from relocating high-carbon footprint industries to China through pilot free trade zones, or using their own climate policies to carry out long-arm jurisdiction to suppress China's normal foreign trade activities.

Actively integrate into the global green and low-carbon transformation and innovation chain, and seek common efforts to build a global ecological civilization. Adhere to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, closely integrate the construction of a higher-level open economic system with high-quality national strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative, encourage relevant areas of the pilot free trade zone to take the initiative to connect with international high-standard economic and trade rules, and increase the intensity of early implementation and trial in ecological environmental protection, resource recycling, green and low-carbon development, etc. Strengthen the compilation of green standards and promote international cooperation, and promote the smooth convergence of relevant domestic and international rules and standards through institutional innovation. Actively explore new models of mutual support between environmental protection and trade and investment, support pilot free trade zones to actively build cross-border cooperation platforms on ecological and environmental environments, carry out environmental technology exchanges and cooperation, and link global innovation resources and elements. We will give full play to the frontier advantages of the pilot free trade zone in opening up to the outside world, and increase the supply of green innovation policies and green and low-carbon products. Cultivate high-quality interdisciplinary talents, better promote policy communication, facility connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people ties between the pilot free trade zone and trading partners around the world, and contribute wisdom and strength to the construction of the Green Silk Road.

Author's Affiliation:Hunan Provincial Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association