Light of Truth | Write a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization in the new era

The quality of the ecological environment is directly related to the rise and fall of human civilization. The construction of ecological civilization is a fundamental plan related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. In 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection: "The structural, root-cause, and trend pressures on the mainland's ecological and environmental protection have not been fundamentally alleviated. …… The construction of ecological civilization is still in a critical period of superimposed pressure and heavy burden. "We must unify our thoughts and actions with the strategic deployment of the Party Central Committee on the construction of ecological civilization, and provide strong support for building a modern socialist country in an all-round way and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way with a high-quality ecological environment. Writing a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization in the new era is an inevitable requirement for continuously promoting and expanding Chinese-style modernization, and it is also an important embodiment of China's active construction of a beautiful homeland based on the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

"Harmonious coexistence between man and nature" to coordinate the construction of ecological civilization

The Chinese nation has always respected and loved nature, and the Chinese civilization is the only great civilization in the world that has continued and developed in the form of a country, and has always adhered to the concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature". "Harmonious coexistence between man and nature" is an inexhaustible driving force for the continuous development of Chinese civilization, and it is deeply integrated into the whole process of the origin, development and formation of Chinese civilization. In the course of more than 5,000 years of civilization development, rich ecological cultures such as "harmony between man and nature", "Taoism and nature", "harmony between people and things", "reverence for life" and "moderation in use" have been cultivated, which is also the traditional cultural foundation for discussing the concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature".

The contemporary value of the concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature" is mainly of important guiding and reference significance for the construction of ecological civilization. Since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature" has become more prominent in the overall construction of ecological civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Man and nature are a community of life, and human beings must respect, conform to and protect nature. …… We must plan for economic and social development from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward five aspects of Chinese-style modernization, the fourth of which is that "Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature". This also requires us to handle the relationship between man and nature in the process of promoting the construction of ecological civilization, keep the boundaries and bottom lines of human activities, prevent excessive destruction and development of nature, and truly realize the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.

The construction of ecological civilization is not only related to China, but also a global issue that affects the survival and development of all mankind, and has attracted extensive attention from all over the world. Therefore, the importance of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature" for the construction of ecological civilization is also reflected in China's handling of international relations, especially for the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. In April 2021, President Xi Jinping attended the Leaders' Summit on Climate Change and delivered an important speech, expounding on the concept of building a community of life between man and nature, emphasizing the need to adhere to a series of responsibilities and principles such as harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Writing a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization in the new era not only contributes to China's strategy for the future development of mankind, but also fully demonstrates China's image and responsibility as a responsible major country.

The goal of ecological civilization construction is that human beings can not only benefit from nature, but also repay nature, and maintain the harmony and unity between man and nature in dynamic balance. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that it is necessary to completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept, plan economic and social development from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and strive to build a modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature" is one of the core tenets of Chinese civilization, which contains rich and profound ecological wisdom for dealing with the relationship between man and nature, and has important practical guidance and reference significance for the overall construction of ecological civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed at the sixth collective study of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that "we must not abandon the soul of Marxism and the root of China's excellent traditional culture." We should use Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization to activate the vital factors in China's excellent traditional ecological culture, and write a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization that organically combines the beautiful China with the beautiful homeland of the earth.

The "dual carbon" goal is an important starting point for the construction of ecological civilization

Since the reform and opening up, the mainland's economy and society have developed rapidly, and the massive consumption of energy resources has led to a continuous increase in carbon dioxide emissions. The rapid exploitation and overuse of the natural environment has led to a significant reduction in the amount of vegetation that can absorb carbon dioxide, further increasing carbon dioxide emissions. However, economic development consumes energy and inevitably emits carbon dioxide. The goal of carbon peaking is to stop growing carbon dioxide emissions and peak at a set point in time, and then gradually fall back. Carbon neutrality is to offset all carbon dioxide emitted in the process of economic development through afforestation, energy conservation and emission reduction. When presiding over the 36th collective study of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out: "Fully understand the urgency and arduousness of achieving the 'dual carbon' goal, study the key tasks that need to be done, unify thinking and understanding, and implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee in a down-to-earth manner." "Generally speaking, the "dual carbon" goal is undoubtedly an urgent need to solve the outstanding problems of resource and environmental constraints encountered in China's current development process and achieve sustainable development.

A good natural environment is one of the important ways to achieve the "double carbon" goal, and once the natural environment is damaged, it will increase the difficulty of achieving the "double carbon" goal. If the damaged natural environment is not addressed, it will also increase carbon emissions. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, "the construction of ecological civilization in mainland China has entered a critical period with carbon reduction as the key strategic direction, promoting the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, promoting the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, and realizing the improvement of ecological environment quality from quantitative to qualitative change". Specifically, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of a "dual carbon" policy system, actively participate in international negotiations on climate change, and demonstrate the responsibility of a responsible major country. For individuals, it is necessary to advocate green consumption and promote the formation of green and low-carbon production methods and lifestyles. At present, the mainland has formulated a series of documents around the "dual carbon" goal, and the "double carbon" goal has also received widespread attention from the whole society. On September 22, 2020, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed to the international community at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly that China will increase its nationally determined contributions, adopt more robust policies and measures, strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030, and strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

The "dual carbon" goal has also become an important starting point for China's ecological civilization construction. In the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping took the realization of the "dual carbon" goal as one of the specific implementation paths for the construction of ecological civilization such as "promoting green development and promoting the harmonious coexistence of man and nature". General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "We must promote the construction of a beautiful China and adhere to the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sands...... We will work together to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the ninth meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Commission: "It is necessary to incorporate carbon peak and carbon neutrality into the overall layout of ecological civilization construction." Therefore, to achieve the "double carbon" goal, we must unswervingly follow the path of ecological priority, green and low-carbon development, adhere to the realization of the "double carbon" goal into a new development concept, and promote the construction of ecological civilization to achieve new achievements. This is of great significance for building socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics and harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

The construction of ecological civilization is an intrinsic requirement for building a community with a shared future for mankind

Today's world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, peace, development, cooperation and win-win have become the historical development trend of the new era, and the development trend of interdependence and human destiny of all countries in the world is unstoppable. In 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, emphasizing that "mankind lives in the same global village, lives in the same time and space where history and reality converge, and is increasingly becoming a community with a shared future between you and me, and I have you". A community with a shared future for mankind closely links the future and destiny of all mankind, which also requires us to stand together through thick and thin and share weal and woe.

A good natural environment is very important for building a community with a shared future for mankind, so the construction of ecological civilization has also become an inherent requirement for building a community with a shared future for mankind. In 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, putting forward six basic principles for China to promote the construction of ecological civilization, the sixth of which is to "seek common efforts to build a global ecological civilization, deeply participate in global environmental governance, form solutions for world environmental protection and sustainable development, and guide international cooperation on climate change". This principle shows that the construction of ecological civilization is related to all countries and regions in the world, and ecological civilization closely links the whole world. The construction of a community with a shared future for mankind is also related to all mankind and requires a good natural environment, and the construction of ecological civilization is closely linked to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

With the gradual intensification of the trend of globalization, the countries of the world are more widely and deeply connected than ever before, and in the 21st century, environmental problems have triggered many infectious diseases with a wide range of effects and deep impacts, which are prevalent globally or locally. This has also caused human society to pay more and more attention to the construction of ecological civilization, and people have become more aware of the importance of properly handling the relationship between man and nature, which also requires people to "deepen the understanding of the laws of the community of life between man and nature, and comprehensively accelerate the construction of ecological civilization". Therefore, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind through the construction of ecological civilization is of concern to all countries and regions in the world.

A community with a shared future for mankind aims to pursue its own interests while taking into account the legitimate concerns of other countries, and to promote the common development of all countries while pursuing its own development. As a responsible major country, China has always worked hard to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) regarded the building of a community with a shared future for mankind as one of the basic strategies for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and wrote it into the Party Constitution. The first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) solemnly enshrined the constitutional amendment to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, officially elevating it to the will of the state. On July 1, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in an important speech at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China that we must continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind by learning from history and creating the future. In the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that the essence of "Chinese-style modernization" is to "adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics, and achieve high-quality development...... Promote the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and create a new form of human civilization".

Building a community with a shared future for mankind "means adhering to dialogue and consultation and building a world of lasting peace". As a responsible and responsible major country, China has also actively shouldered corresponding responsibilities and obligations, which are also reflected in the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which proposed to "comprehensively promote major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind" and "promote world peace and development and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind".

"There is no substitute for the ecological environment, and it is difficult to survive if you don't realize it." General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "ecological environmental protection should be placed in a more prominent position", and compared the ecological environment to "eyes" and "life", which shows the importance of ecological civilization construction. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the construction of ecological civilization, and the state has organized extensive and in-depth field investigations, researched and formulated a systematic and scientific work plan. However, the construction of ecological civilization still has many extremely difficult problems to overcome, and it is also facing many new problems and challenges. This requires us to firmly follow Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and promote the construction of ecological civilization to a new level.　

Source: China Social Science News Light of Truth | Write a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization in the new era

Editor: Zhang Jing