Marxist Dialectics and the Synthesis of a Sustainable Development Model 'For' and 'From' China

 

Venus and Mars, c 1485. National Gallery, London

 

At the 5th Plenary Sess. of the CPC, I emphasized that my country's construction of socialist modernization has many important characteristics, one of which is that my country's modernization is a modernization in which man and nature coexist in harmony, and it focuses on the simultaneous promotion of the construction of material civilization and ecological civilization. (Xi Jinping, Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, Qiushi 31 May 2022 (我在党的十九届五中全会上强调，我国建设社会主义现代化具有许多重要特征，其中之一就是我国现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，))

 Chinese Marxist dialectics has sought to produce a union of development and of sustainability as the synthesis of the oppositions of (1) development and modernization (the thesis of the Reform and Opening Up Era) on the one hand, and (2) environmental sensitivity and sustainability (the antithesis at the core of the current principal contradiction of the New Era). In a recently published version of remarks made in 30 April 2022, Xi Jinping is quoted as remarking in this vein that "Practice has shown that ecological environmental protection and economic development are dialectically unified and mutually reinforcing."(Xi Jinping, Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence, supra (实践表明，生态环境保护和经济发展是辩证统一、相辅相成的，建设生态文明) speech delivered by Gen. Sec.  Xi at the 29th collective study of the Politburo of the 19th Central Committee 30 April 2021 (这是习近平总书记2021年4月30日在十九届中央政治局第二十九次集体学习时的讲话)).

In the remarks, Mr. Xi weaves together strands from many of his prior remarks about elements of what will emerge as a comprehensive conceptualization of Socialist sustainable development both as an answer to Western criticism that Chinese Marxist-Leninism is devoid of solutions to the contradiction between traditional development frameworks and emerging sustainability principles ("Pressure is being exerted on my country in many ways, and the game of major powers around ecological and environmental issues is very fierce." Xi Jinping, Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence, supra (多方面对我国施压，围绕生态环境问题的大国博弈十分激烈。).  But the effort is not entirelñy driven by reaction to criticism; there are strong elements of proactive  construction consonant with and advancing MChinese Marxist Leninist theory in its New Era configuration. 

To that end, Mr. Xi proposes now a five prong approach that is to serve as the framework for the conceptualization of the synthesis and the guide to the construction and implementation of specific policies at the national, provincial, local. . . and international levels). Whether it works or not remains to be seen--either as a conceptual model or in practice; yet this is the very challenge facing the equally vigorous efforts being undertaken within liberal democratic collectives which also remain to be fully elaborated and tested (see,Brief Thoughts on "Sustainable Global Supply Chains: G7 Leadership on UNGP Implementation Report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the 2022 German Presidency of the G7").

The five point approach was nicely described in the speech itself (Xi Jinping, Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence, supra):

Pix credit Veronese 1570s Mars and Venus United by Love

第一，坚持不懈推动绿色低碳发展。我多次强调，生态环境问题归根到底是发展方式和生活方式问题。建立健全绿色低碳循环发展经济体系、促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型是解决我国生态环境问题的基础之策。("First, unremittingly promote green and low-carbon development. I have emphasized many times that ecological and environmental issues are, in the final analysis, issues of development methods and lifestyles. Establishing and improving a green, low-carbon and circular development economic system and promoting a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development are the basic strategies to solve my country's ecological and environmental problems.").

第二，深入打好污染防治攻坚战。现在，人民群众对生态环境质量的期望值更高，对生态环境问题的容忍度更低。要集中攻克老百姓身边的突出生态环境问题，让老百姓实实在在感受到生态环境质量改善。("Second, we must do a good job in the tough battle of pollution prevention and control. Now, the people have higher expectations for the quality of the ecological environment and lower tolerance for ecological and environmental problems. It is necessary to focus on overcoming the prominent ecological and environmental problems around the common people, so that the common people can truly feel the improvement of the quality of the ecological environment.")

第三，提升生态系统质量和稳定性。这既是增加优质生态产品供给的必然要求，也是减缓和适应气候变化带来不利影响的重要手段。“草木植成，国之富也。("Third, improve the quality and stability of the ecosystem. This is not only an inevitable requirement to increase the supply of high-quality ecological products, but also an important means to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. "When plants and trees are planted, the country is rich.").

第四，积极推动全球可持续发展。保护生态环境、应对气候变化，是全人类面临的共同挑战。("Fourth, actively promote global sustainable development. Protecting the ecological environment and responding to climate change are common challenges faced by all mankind.")

第五，提高生态环境领域国家治理体系和治理能力现代化水平。要健全党委领导、政府主导、企业主体、社会组织和公众共同参与的现代环境治理体系，构建一体谋划、一体部署、一体推进、一体考核的制度机制。("Fifth, improve the modernization level of the national governance system and governance capacity in the field of ecological environment. It is necessary to improve 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, and build an institutional mechanism for integrated planning, integrated deployment, integrated promotion, and integrated assessment.").

Pix Credit HERE

There is a certain level of convergence, at least with respect to objectives, with the development of international approaches to development and sustainability outside of China.  But the great differences are also evident.  First is the distinction of the role of the state in the construction, oversight, and management of the synergies of development and sustainability (including climate sensitive actions). The efforts here are driven by the state; and while there may be a 'smart mix' of measures utilized, markets driven tools do not appear to be among them to any significant extent. Second, it is clear that this alternative model is meant for export. Export here has two dimensions: (1) an operational dimension diffused through China's Belt & Road partners to develop 'facts' (evidence of the success of the model); and (2) a conceptual dimension to be put forward likely in traditional international public fora (and IFIs including AIIB) to seek an international consensus on a 'truth' evidenced by the success of 'facts on the ground (a 'seek truth  from facts' approach 实事求是). Third, a comprehensive and centralized coordination that will necessarily be built on big data, analytics, and modeling (both descriptive and predictive). At the same time there ius an element of combativeness that while promoting Chinese Socialist approaches tends to distract from the Chinese task of building Socialist sustainable development in domestic and exportable forms (e.g., "We must adhere to the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, fairness and respective capabilities, firmly uphold multilateralism, effectively respond to the attempts of some Western countries to "regulate" my country, and resolutely safeguard my country's development interests."(Xi Jinping, Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence, supra (要坚持共同但有区别的责任原则、公平原则和各自能力原则，坚定维护多边主义，有效应对一些西方国家对我国进行“规锁”的企图，坚决维护我国发展利益。))

There are substantially more clues about the approach, again at a very great level of generality as these things are usually undertaken from the center in China.  But still, enough to chew on in comparative study. More importantly, it suggests the basis around which conversation about the forms, practice and expression of human rights and development--whether or not centered on the human (here)  will likely take place in international arenas where China will seek to promote its concepts and practices (and pitch them most strongly at developing states) (see here).  

These clues will be essential for the process, as the UN has now "unveiled a new China strategy to help businesses in China to work towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). . . [which] identifies seven areas where UN Global Compact wants to further engage with Chinese governments at all levels, businesses and other stakeholders to maximize impact. " (UN launches new strategy to boost engagement with China).

The original Chinese text follows along with a crude English translation.

努力建设人与自然和谐共生的现代化

来源：《求是》2022/11 作者：习近平 2022-05-31 15:12:30

努力建设人与自然和谐共生的现代化^※

习近平

　　今天，中央政治局进行第二十九次集体学习，内容是新形势下加强我国生态文明建设。党的十八大以来，中央政治局已经两次就生态文明建设相关题目进行集体学习，这是第三次。安排这次学习，目的是把握进入新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局对生态文明建设提出的新任务新要求，分析我国生态文明建设面临的新形势，推动建设人与自然和谐共生的现代化。

　　党的十八大以来，我们加强党对生态文明建设的全面领导，把生态文明建设摆在全局工作的突出位置，作出一系列重大战略部署。在“五位一体”总体布局中，生态文明建设是其中一位；在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的基本方略中，坚持人与自然和谐共生是其中一条；在新发展理念中，绿色是其中一项；在三大攻坚战中，污染防治是其中一战；在到本世纪中叶建成社会主义现代化强国目标中，美丽中国是其中一个。这充分体现了我们对生态文明建设重要性的认识，明确了生态文明建设在党和国家事业发展全局中的重要地位。

　　我们全面加强生态文明建设，系统谋划生态文明体制改革，一体治理山水林田湖草沙，开展了一系列根本性、开创性、长远性工作，决心之大、力度之大、成效之大前所未有，生态文明建设从认识到实践都发生了历史性、转折性、全局性的变化。我先后就甘肃祁连山生态破坏、陕西秦岭北麓违建别墅、青海木里矿区非法开采等典型案例作出指示批示，有关地方和部门严肃查处和追责了一批失职渎职的人员。9年来，蓝天白云重新展现，绿色版图不断扩展，绿色经济加快发展，能耗物耗不断降低，浓烟重霾有效抑制，黑臭水体明显减少，城乡环境更加宜居，美丽中国建设迈出坚实步伐，绿水青山就是金山银山的理念成为全党全社会的共识和行动。根据美国航天局卫星数据，2000年至2017年间，全球新增绿化面积中约四分之一来自中国。我国引领全球气候变化谈判进程，积极推动《巴黎协定》的签署、生效、实施，宣布2030年前实现二氧化碳排放达到峰值、2060年前实现碳中和。我国生态文明建设取得的成就，也得到了国际社会广泛肯定。

　　2018年5月18日至19日，全国生态环境保护大会在北京召开。中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平出席会议并发表重要讲话。 新华社记者 王晔/摄

　　实践表明，生态环境保护和经济发展是辩证统一、相辅相成的，建设生态文明、推动绿色低碳循环发展，不仅可以满足人民日益增长的优美生态环境需要，而且可以推动实现更高质量、更有效率、更加公平、更可持续、更为安全的发展，走出一条生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路。

　　生态环境修复和改善，是一个需要付出长期艰苦努力的过程，不可能一蹴而就，必须坚持不懈、奋发有为。当前，我国生态文明建设仍然面临诸多矛盾和挑战，生态环境稳中向好的基础还不稳固，从量变到质变的拐点还没有到来，生态环境质量同人民群众对美好生活的期盼相比，同建设美丽中国的目标相比，同构建新发展格局、推动高质量发展、全面建设社会主义现代化国家的要求相比，都还有较大差距。我国产业结构调整有一个过程，传统产业所占比重依然较高，战略性新兴产业、高技术产业尚未成长为经济增长的主导力量，能源结构没有得到根本性改变，重点区域、重点行业污染问题没有得到根本解决，实现碳达峰、碳中和任务艰巨，资源环境对发展的压力越来越大。推动绿色低碳发展是国际潮流所向、大势所趋，绿色经济已经成为全球产业竞争制高点。一些西方国家对我国大打“环境牌”，多方面对我国施压，围绕生态环境问题的大国博弈十分激烈。

　　2022年3月30日，党和国家领导人习近平、李克强、栗战书、汪洋、王沪宁、赵乐际、韩正、王岐山等来到北京市大兴区黄村镇参加首都义务植树活动。这是习近平同大家一起植树。 新华社记者 黄敬文/摄

　　我在党的十九届五中全会上强调，我国建设社会主义现代化具有许多重要特征，其中之一就是我国现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，注重同步推进物质文明建设和生态文明建设。“十四五”时期，我国生态文明建设进入了以降碳为重点战略方向、推动减污降碳协同增效、促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型、实现生态环境质量改善由量变到质变的关键时期。要完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，保持战略定力，站在人与自然和谐共生的高度来谋划经济社会发展，坚持节约资源和保护环境的基本国策，坚持节约优先、保护优先、自然恢复为主的方针，形成节约资源和保护环境的空间格局、产业结构、生产方式、生活方式，统筹污染治理、生态保护、应对气候变化，促进生态环境持续改善，努力建设人与自然和谐共生的现代化。

　　第一，坚持不懈推动绿色低碳发展。我多次强调，生态环境问题归根到底是发展方式和生活方式问题。建立健全绿色低碳循环发展经济体系、促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型是解决我国生态环境问题的基础之策。3月15日，我主持召开中央财经委员会第九次会议，研究部署了实现碳达峰、碳中和的基本思路和重大举措。要把实现减污降碳协同增效作为促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型的总抓手，加快推动产业结构、能源结构、交通运输结构、用地结构调整。要强化国土空间规划和用途管控，落实生态保护、基本农田、城镇开发等空间管控边界，实施主体功能区战略，划定并严守生态保护红线。要抓住资源利用这个源头，推进资源总量管理、科学配置、全面节约、循环利用，全面提高资源利用效率。要抓住产业结构调整这个关键，推动战略性新兴产业、高技术产业、现代服务业加快发展，推动能源清洁低碳安全高效利用，持续降低碳排放强度。要解决好推进绿色低碳发展的科技支撑不足问题，加强碳捕集利用和封存技术、零碳工业流程再造技术等科技攻关，支持绿色低碳技术创新成果转化。要发展绿色金融，支持绿色技术创新。

　　我多次强调，降低二氧化碳排放、应对气候变化不是别人要我们做，而是我们自己要做。实现碳达峰、碳中和是我国向世界作出的庄严承诺，也是一场广泛而深刻的经济社会变革，绝不是轻轻松松就能实现的。现在，一些部门和地方上马高耗能、高排放项目的冲动依然强烈。在今年1月举行的省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的十九届五中全会精神专题研讨班上，我专门强调要注意防范八个认识误区，其中一个认识误区就是借扩大内需、形成国内大市场之机，大搞高能耗、高排放的项目。有关部门和地方要严把关口，不符合要求的项目要坚决拿下来！各级党委和政府要拿出抓铁有痕、踏石留印的劲头，明确时间表、路线图、施工图，推动经济社会发展建立在资源高效利用和绿色低碳发展的基础之上。

　　2019年8月19日至22日，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平在甘肃考察。这是21日上午，习近平在武威市古浪县八步沙林场同“六老汉”代表及林场职工亲切交谈。 新华社记者 鞠鹏/摄

　　第二，深入打好污染防治攻坚战。现在，人民群众对生态环境质量的期望值更高，对生态环境问题的容忍度更低。要集中攻克老百姓身边的突出生态环境问题，让老百姓实实在在感受到生态环境质量改善。要坚持精准治污、科学治污、依法治污，保持力度、延伸深度、拓宽广度，持续打好蓝天、碧水、净土保卫战。要强化多污染物协同控制和区域协同治理，加强细颗粒物和臭氧协同控制，基本消除重污染天气。要统筹水资源、水环境、水生态治理，加强江河湖库污染防治和生态保护，建设美丽海湾，有效保护居民饮用水安全，坚决治理城市黑臭水体。要推进土壤污染防治，有效管控农用地和建设用地土壤污染风险。要实施垃圾分类和减量化、资源化，加强白色污染治理，加强危险废物医疗废物收集处理，强化重金属污染防治，重视新污染物治理。要推动污染治理向乡镇、农村延伸，强化农业面源污染治理，明显改善农村人居环境。

　　第三，提升生态系统质量和稳定性。这既是增加优质生态产品供给的必然要求，也是减缓和适应气候变化带来不利影响的重要手段。“草木植成，国之富也。”良好生态本身蕴含着经济社会价值。要坚持系统观念，从生态系统整体性出发，推进山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复，更加注重综合治理、系统治理、源头治理。要加快构建以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系，完善自然保护地、生态保护红线监管制度。要建立健全生态产品价值实现机制，让保护修复生态环境获得合理回报，让破坏生态环境付出相应代价。要科学推进荒漠化、石漠化、水土流失综合治理，开展大规模国土绿化行动。要推行草原森林河流湖泊休养生息，实施好长江十年禁渔，健全耕地休耕轮作制度。要实施生物多样性保护重大工程，强化外来物种管控，举办好《生物多样性公约》第十五次缔约方大会。

　　第四，积极推动全球可持续发展。保护生态环境、应对气候变化，是全人类面临的共同挑战。我们要秉持人类命运共同体理念，积极参与全球环境治理，加强应对气候变化、海洋污染治理、生物多样性保护等领域国际合作，认真履行国际公约，主动承担同国情、发展阶段和能力相适应的环境治理义务，为全球提供更多公共产品，不断增强制度性权利，实现义务和权利的平衡，展现我国负责任大国形象。要发挥发展中大国的引领作用，加强南南合作以及同周边国家的合作，为发展中国家提供力所能及的资金、技术支持，帮助提高环境治理能力，共同打造绿色“一带一路”。要坚持共同但有区别的责任原则、公平原则和各自能力原则，坚定维护多边主义，有效应对一些西方国家对我国进行“规锁”的企图，坚决维护我国发展利益。

　　第五，提高生态环境领域国家治理体系和治理能力现代化水平。要健全党委领导、政府主导、企业主体、社会组织和公众共同参与的现代环境治理体系，构建一体谋划、一体部署、一体推进、一体考核的制度机制。要深入推进生态文明体制改革，强化绿色发展法律和政策保障，健全自然资源资产产权制度和法律法规。要完善环境保护、节能减排约束性指标管理，建立健全稳定的财政资金投入机制。要全面实行排污许可制，推进排污权、用能权、用水权、碳排放权市场化交易，建立健全风险管控机制。要大力宣传绿色文明，增强全民节约意识、环保意识、生态意识，倡导简约适度、绿色低碳的生活方式，把建设美丽中国转化为全体人民自觉行动。

　　2018年5月18日，我在全国生态环境保护大会上提出，我国生态文明建设正处于压力叠加、负重前行的关键期，已进入提供更多优质生态产品以满足人民日益增长的优美生态环境需要的攻坚期，也到了有条件有能力解决生态环境突出问题的窗口期。各级党委和政府要提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，心怀“国之大者”，担负起生态文明建设的政治责任，坚决做到令行禁止，确保党中央关于生态文明建设各项决策部署落地见效。

　　※这是习近平总书记2021年4月30日在十九届中央政治局第二十九次集体学习时的讲话。

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Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature
Source: "Seeking Truth" 2022/11 Author: Xi Jinping 2022-05-31 15:12:30

Efforts to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature※

Xi Jinping

Today, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee conducted the 29th collective study, the content of which is to strengthen the construction of my country's ecological civilization under the new situation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee has conducted collective studies on topics related to the construction of ecological civilization twice. This is the third time. The purpose of arranging this study is to grasp the new tasks and new requirements for the construction of ecological civilization in entering a new stage of development, implementing new development concepts, and building a new development pattern, analyze the new situation faced by the construction of ecological civilization in my country, and promote the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. modernization.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have strengthened the Party's overall leadership over the construction of ecological civilization, placed the construction of ecological civilization in a prominent position in the overall work, and made a series of major strategic arrangements. In the overall layout of "five in one", ecological civilization construction is one of them; in the basic strategy of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, adhering to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature is one of them; in the new development concept, green It is one of them; in the three major battles, pollution prevention and control is one of them; in the goal of building a powerful modern socialist country by the middle of this century, beautiful China is one of them. This fully reflects our understanding of the importance of ecological civilization construction, and clarifies the important position of ecological civilization construction in the overall development of the party and the country.

We have comprehensively strengthened the construction of ecological civilization, systematically planned the reform of the ecological civilization system, and integrated the management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand, and carried out a series of fundamental, pioneering and long-term work. The construction of civilization has undergone historical, turning and overall changes from recognition to practice. I have successively issued instructions and instructions on typical cases such as the ecological destruction of the Qilian Mountains in Gansu, the illegal construction of villas at the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, and the illegal mining in the Muli mining area in Qinghai. In the past 9 years, the blue sky and white clouds have reappeared, the green territory has been continuously expanded, the development of the green economy has been accelerated, the energy and material consumption has been continuously reduced, the heavy smoke and haze have been effectively suppressed, the black and odorous water bodies have been significantly reduced, the urban and rural environment has become more livable, and the construction of a beautiful China has taken solid steps. , the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has become the consensus and action of the whole party and the whole society. According to NASA satellite data, between 2000 and 2017, about a quarter of the world's new green areas came from China. my country leads the global climate change negotiation process, actively promotes the signing, entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement, announcing that carbon dioxide emissions will peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality will be achieved by 2060. The achievements of my country's ecological civilization construction have also been widely recognized by the international community.

From May 18th to 19th, 2018, the National Ecological Environmental Protection Conference was held in Beijing. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ye / photo

Practice has shown that ecological environmental protection and economic development are dialectically unified and mutually reinforcing. Building ecological civilization and promoting green, low-carbon and cyclical development can not only meet the people's growing needs for a beautiful ecological environment, but also promote the realization of higher quality and efficient, more equitable, more sustainable and safer development, and embark on a civilized development path with production development, affluent life and good ecology.

Restoring and improving the ecological environment is a process that requires long-term and arduous efforts. It cannot be accomplished overnight. It must be persistent and hardworking. At present, the construction of ecological civilization in my country still faces many contradictions and challenges. The foundation for the improvement of the ecological environment is not stable. The inflection point from quantitative change to qualitative change has not yet arrived. Compared with the people's expectations for a better life, the quality of the ecological environment is Compared with the goal of building a beautiful China, and the requirements of building a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, and building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, there is still a big gap. There is a process of adjustment of my country's industrial structure. The proportion of traditional industries is still relatively high, strategic emerging industries and high-tech industries have not yet grown into leading forces of economic growth, the energy structure has not been fundamentally changed, and pollution problems in key areas and industries have not been The fundamental solution is to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Promoting green and low-carbon development is the international trend and the general trend, and green economy has become the commanding heights of global industrial competition. Some Western countries are playing the "environmental card" against my country, putting pressure on my country in many ways.

On March 30, 2022, Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan and others came to Huangcun Town, Daxing District, Beijing to participate in the capital's voluntary tree planting activities. This is Xi Jinping planting trees with everyone. Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jingwen / photo

At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, I emphasized that my country's construction of socialist modernization has many important characteristics, one of which is that my country's modernization is a modernization in which man and nature coexist in harmony, and it focuses on the simultaneous promotion of the construction of material civilization and ecological civilization. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, my country's ecological civilization construction has entered a critical period in which carbon reduction is the key strategic direction, the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction is promoted, the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development is promoted, and the improvement of ecological environment quality has changed from quantitative to qualitative. It is necessary to completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept, maintain strategic focus, plan economic and social development from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, adhere to the basic national policy of saving resources and protecting the environment, and insist on giving priority to conservation, protection, and natural restoration. The main policy is to form a spatial pattern, industrial structure, production method, and way of life for saving resources and protecting the environment, coordinating pollution control, ecological protection, and responding to climate change, promoting the continuous improvement of the ecological environment, and striving to build a modernization where man and nature coexist in harmony .

First, unremittingly promote green and low-carbon development. I have emphasized many times that the issue of ecological environment is, in the final analysis, the issue of development mode and way of life. Establishing and improving a green, low-carbon and circular development economic system and promoting a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development are the basic strategies to solve my country's ecological and environmental problems. On March 15, I presided over the ninth meeting of the Central Finance and Economics Committee, and studied and deployed the basic ideas and major measures to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. It is necessary to realize the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction as the general starting point for promoting the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, and accelerate the adjustment of industrial structure, energy structure, transportation structure, and land use structure. It is necessary to strengthen land space planning and use control, implement spatial control boundaries such as ecological protection, basic farmland, and urban development, implement the strategy of main functional areas, and delineate and strictly observe ecological protection red lines. It is necessary to seize the source of resource utilization, promote the management of total resources, scientific allocation, comprehensive conservation and recycling, and comprehensively improve the efficiency of resource utilization. It is necessary to grasp the key of industrial structure adjustment, accelerate the development of strategic emerging industries, high-tech industries, and modern service industries, promote clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient use of energy, and continue to reduce the intensity of carbon emissions. It is necessary to solve the problem of insufficient scientific and technological support for promoting green and low-carbon development, to strengthen scientific and technological research such as carbon capture, utilization and storage technology, and zero-carbon industrial process. I support efforts at enhancing re-engineering technology, and the transformation of green and low-carbon technological innovations, as well as to develop green finance and support green technology innovation.

I have emphasized many times that reducing carbon dioxide emissions and addressing climate change are not what others want us to do, but what we do ourselves. Achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is a solemn commitment that my country has made to the world, and it is also an extensive and profound economic and social transformation, which is by no means easy to achieve. Now, some departments and localities still have a strong urge to launch high-energy-consuming and high-emission projects. At the seminar on the study and implementation of the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee held in January this year for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels, I specifically emphasized the need to guard against eight misunderstandings, one of which is to expand domestic demand and form domestic Opportunities for a large market, and large-scale projects with high energy consumption and high emissions. Relevant departments and localities must strictly control the threshold, and projects that do not meet the requirements must be resolutely taken down! Party committees and governments at all levels must have the energy to grasp the traces of iron and stamp on the stone, clarify the timetable, roadmap, and construction drawings, and promote economic and social development based on the efficient use of resources and green and low-carbon development.

From August 19 to 22, 2019, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping inspected Gansu. This is the morning of the 21st. Xi Jinping had a cordial conversation with representatives of the "six old men" and forest farm workers at Babusha Forest Farm in Gulang County, Wuwei City. Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng / photo

Second, we need to fight the tough battle of pollution prevention and control. Now, the people have higher expectations for the quality of the ecological environment and lower tolerance for ecological and environmental problems. It is necessary to focus on overcoming the prominent ecological and environmental problems around the common people, so that the common people can truly feel the improvement of the ecological environment quality. We must adhere to precise pollution control, scientific pollution control, and law-based pollution control, maintain strength, extend depth, and broaden breadth, and continue to fight for the defense of blue sky, clear water, and pure land. It is necessary to strengthen the coordinated control of multiple pollutants and regional coordinated governance, strengthen the coordinated control of fine particulate matter and ozone, and basically eliminate heavily polluted weather. It is necessary to coordinate the management of water resources, water environment and water ecology, strengthen the prevention and control of pollution of rivers, lakes and reservoirs and ecological protection, build beautiful bays, effectively protect the safety of drinking water for residents, and resolutely control urban black and odorous water bodies. It is necessary to promote the prevention and control of soil pollution, and effectively control the soil pollution risks of agricultural land and construction land. It is necessary to implement garbage classification, reduction and recycling, strengthen the control of white pollution, strengthen the collection and treatment of hazardous waste and medical waste, strengthen the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution, and pay attention to the treatment of new pollutants. It is necessary to promote the extension of pollution control to townships and rural areas, strengthen the control of agricultural non-point source pollution, and significantly improve the rural living environment.

Third, improve the quality and stability of the ecosystem. This is not only an inevitable requirement to increase the supply of high-quality ecological products, but also an important means to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. "Plants are planted, and the country is rich." A good ecology itself contains economic and social value. It is necessary to adhere to the system concept, proceed from the integrity of the ecosystem, promote the integrated protection and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand, and pay more attention to comprehensive management, systematic management, and source management. It is necessary to speed up the construction of a natural reserve system with national parks as the main body, and improve the supervision system for natural reserves and ecological protection red lines. It is necessary to establish and improve the value realization mechanism of ecological products, so that the protection and restoration of the ecological environment can obtain reasonable returns, and the damage to the ecological environment can be paid accordingly. It is necessary to scientifically promote the comprehensive management of desertification, rocky desertification, and soil erosion, and carry out large-scale land greening actions. It is necessary to promote the recuperation of grasslands, forests, rivers and lakes, implement a ten-year ban on fishing in the Yangtze River, and improve the system of fallow farming and rotation. It is necessary to implement major biodiversity conservation projects, strengthen the control of alien species, and hold the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Fourth, actively promote global sustainable development. Protecting the ecological environment and responding to climate change are common challenges faced by all mankind. We must uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, actively participate in global environmental governance, strengthen international cooperation in the fields of climate change, marine pollution control, biodiversity protection, etc., earnestly implement international conventions, and take the initiative to undertake an environment that is compatible with national conditions, development stages and capabilities. Governance obligations, provide more public goods for the world, continuously strengthen institutional rights, achieve a balance between obligations and rights, and show my country's image as a responsible major country. It is necessary to give full play to the leading role of major developing countries, strengthen South-South cooperation and cooperation with neighboring countries, provide developing countries with financial and technical support within their capabilities, help improve their environmental governance capabilities, and jointly build a green Belt and Road Initiative. We must adhere to the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, fairness and respective capabilities, firmly uphold multilateralism, effectively respond to the attempts of some Western countries to "regulate" my country, and resolutely safeguard my country's development interests.

Fifth, improve the modernization level of the national governance system and governance capacity in the field of ecological environment. It is necessary to improve 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, and build an institutional mechanism for integrated planning, integrated deployment, integrated promotion, and integrated assessment. It is necessary to further promote the reform of the ecological civilization system, strengthen the legal and policy guarantees for green development, and improve the property rights system and laws and regulations of natural resources assets. It is necessary to improve the management of binding indicators for environmental protection, energy conservation and emission reduction, and establish a sound and stable financial capital investment mechanism. It is necessary to fully implement the emission permit system, promote the market-based trading of emission rights, energy use rights, water rights, and carbon emission rights, and establish and improve risk management and control mechanisms. We must vigorously publicize green civilization, enhance national awareness of conservation, environmental protection, and ecology, advocate a simple, moderate, green and low-carbon lifestyle, and transform the building of a beautiful China into conscious actions of all people.

On May 18, 2018, I proposed at the National Ecological Environmental Protection Conference that my country's ecological civilization construction is in a critical period of superimposed pressure and heavy load, and has entered a beautiful ecological environment that provides more high-quality ecological products to meet the people's growing number of people. The critical period that is needed has also come to a window period when conditions and capabilities are available to solve outstanding problems in the ecological environment. Party committees and governments at all levels must improve their political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, have a "great nation" in mind, shoulder the political responsibility for ecological civilization construction, resolutely enforce orders and prohibitions, and ensure that the Party Central Committee makes decisions on ecological civilization construction that are effectively deployed.

※This is the speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the twenty-ninth collective study of the Political Bureau of the Nineteenth Central Committee on April 30, 2021.