JI’NAN—At a CASS Forum on the transformation of the ecological civilization paradigm, experts shed light on measures to make ecological progress.

Adhering to the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, China has adopted a series of strategies and achieved milestones in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG 2030), especially in the construction of ecological civilization, said Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress.

China has adopted a strategy prioritizing energy saving and energy efficiency improvement, Ding continued. The country has also integrated the SDG 2030 into its national planning, continuing to promote scientific and technological revolution in the energy field. China is constantly improving the system of environmental law and regulations and taking major measures to control pollution.

China has been promoting the greening of the country, improving the nature reserve system and the protection of biodiversity, Ding said. Moreover, the country has been a keen participant in and advocate for international cooperation on green growth.

In the view of Chen Zongxing, president of the China Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association, it is necessary to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning through ecological civilization. He believed that to meet common challenges and move towards a better future requires economic and technological strength as well as cultural power.

Chinese civilization is an open system formed through constant exchanges with other civilizations and mutual learning, Chen observed. Chinese civilization has always respected and loved nature. Chinese civilization, which has lasted for more than 5,000 years, has given birth to a rich ecological culture. Protecting, inheriting and innovating with Chinese civilization is an important focus of ecological civilization construction, Chen said. This not only determines the level and quality of China’s ecological civilization construction, but also reflects and marks China’s role as an important participant in, contributor to and leader of global ecological civilization construction.

Cai Fang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), suggested strengthening research and designing incentive mechanisms along with turning the concept of green growth and the thought of ecological civilization into workable policies.

Janos Pasztor, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs of the United States, said that efforts should be made to promote the transformation of the ecological civilization paradigm, innovate with governance models, form new production methods and lifestyles, and establish a platform for ecological protection and sharing knowledge, experience and risks. It is necessary to form a global synergy for ecological and environmental protection, mobilizing the government, enterprises and the public while promoting the effective implementation of ecological protection decisions.

In the view of Yang Weimin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, ecological civilization is not simply to save energy, reduce emissions and protect ecology, but to fundamentally change production modes and lifestyles and to transform our economic development mode, social structure and values with the concepts and principles of ecological civilization, building a society in which there is harmony between man and nature, and among people.

China is exploring a path of green transformation while promoting economic transformation, said Wang Yiming, deputy director of the Development Research Center of China’s State Council. Economic transformation has created conditions for green transformation and improved energy efficiency and adjusted the energy structure. Resource conservation and recycling have advanced. Green technology innovation and its system of standards have been strengthened, green consumption and green lifestyles have been gradually promoted, and green finance and green service markets have accelerated. China has taken unprecedented action in pollution prevention and control, and it has accelerated institutional reform for green growth.

Edmond Alphandéry, a former French finance minister, said that such environmental issues as global warming are crises and challenges facing all of humanity in common. Technology and the market are important factors for promoting energy conservation and emission reduction, but how to implement the various measures still needs to be explored.

Pan Jiahua, executive vice president of the CASS Think-tank for Eco-civilization Studies, said that the ethical foundation of industrial civilization is utilitarianism, emphasizing labor value and distribution according to work; in institutional design, it emphasizes more of the protection of capital while paying less attention to people and nature. The ethics of ecological civilization, in contrast, highlight respect toward nature and harmony between man and nature.

In the measurement and distribution of value, Pan said that we must recognize the value of nature, and nature should also be included in the distribution of social wealth. In terms of institutional design, in addition to protecting the rights and interests of people, it is also necessary to protect the rights and interests of nature.

CASS Forum explores ecological progress

ZHANG JIE

JI’NAN—At a CASS Forum on the transformation of the ecological civilization paradigm, experts shed light on measures to make ecological progress.

Adhering to the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, China has adopted a series of strategies and achieved milestones in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG 2030), especially in the construction of ecological civilization, said Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress.

China has adopted a strategy prioritizing energy saving and energy efficiency improvement, Ding continued. The country has also integrated the SDG 2030 into its national planning, continuing to promote scientific and technological revolution in the energy field. China is constantly improving the system of environmental law and regulations and taking major measures to control pollution.

China has been promoting the greening of the country, improving the nature reserve system and the protection of biodiversity, Ding said. Moreover, the country has been a keen participant in and advocate for international cooperation on green growth.

In the view of Chen Zongxing, president of the China Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association, it is necessary to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning through ecological civilization. He believed that to meet common challenges and move towards a better future requires economic and technological strength as well as cultural power.

Chinese civilization is an open system formed through constant exchanges with other civilizations and mutual learning, Chen observed. Chinese civilization has always respected and loved nature. Chinese civilization, which has lasted for more than 5,000 years, has given birth to a rich ecological culture. Protecting, inheriting and innovating with Chinese civilization is an important focus of ecological civilization construction, Chen said. This not only determines the level and quality of China’s ecological civilization construction, but also reflects and marks China’s role as an important participant in, contributor to and leader of global ecological civilization construction.

Cai Fang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), suggested strengthening research and designing incentive mechanisms along with turning the concept of green growth and the thought of ecological civilization into workable policies.

Janos Pasztor, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs of the United States, said that efforts should be made to promote the transformation of the ecological civilization paradigm, innovate with governance models, form new production methods and lifestyles, and establish a platform for ecological protection and sharing knowledge, experience and risks. It is necessary to form a global synergy for ecological and environmental protection, mobilizing the government, enterprises and the public while promoting the effective implementation of ecological protection decisions.

In the view of Yang Weimin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, ecological civilization is not simply to save energy, reduce emissions and protect ecology, but to fundamentally change production modes and lifestyles and to transform our economic development mode, social structure and values with the concepts and principles of ecological civilization, building a society in which there is harmony between man and nature, and among people.

China is exploring a path of green transformation while promoting economic transformation, said Wang Yiming, deputy director of the Development Research Center of China’s State Council. Economic transformation has created conditions for green transformation and improved energy efficiency and adjusted the energy structure. Resource conservation and recycling have advanced. Green technology innovation and its system of standards have been strengthened, green consumption and green lifestyles have been gradually promoted, and green finance and green service markets have accelerated. China has taken unprecedented action in pollution prevention and control, and it has accelerated institutional reform for green growth.

Edmond Alphandéry, a former French finance minister, said that such environmental issues as global warming are crises and challenges facing all of humanity in common. Technology and the market are important factors for promoting energy conservation and emission reduction, but how to implement the various measures still needs to be explored.

Pan Jiahua, executive vice president of the CASS Think-tank for Eco-civilization Studies, said that the ethical foundation of industrial civilization is utilitarianism, emphasizing labor value and distribution according to work; in institutional design, it emphasizes more of the protection of capital while paying less attention to people and nature. The ethics of ecological civilization, in contrast, highlight respect toward nature and harmony between man and nature.

In the measurement and distribution of value, Pan said that we must recognize the value of nature, and nature should also be included in the distribution of social wealth. In terms of institutional design, in addition to protecting the rights and interests of people, it is also necessary to protect the rights and interests of nature.