Wu Haijiang: Deeply Study and Understand the Great Significance of the "Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization"
Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has proceeded from the strategic height of the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. Gaining a profound grasp of the significant status and strategic importance of ecological civilization construction within the cause of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Committee has vigorously promoted innovation in ecological civilization theory, practice, and institutions. By putting forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, it has led the way as China's ecological civilization construction underwent historical, pivotal, and comprehensive changes—from theory to practice. Significant strides have been made in the building of a Beautiful China [1], culminating in the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. The recently published Volume I of the Selected Readings from Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization (hereafter referred to as the Selected Readings) systematically reflects the rich connotations, scientific system, and historical contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. It serves as an authoritative textbook for the in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, particularly his thought on ecological civilization.
Profoundly Grasping the Important Status and Strategic Significance of Ecological Civilization Construction
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization profoundly grasps the historical prerequisites for achieving sustainable development and accords ecological civilization an unprecedented and vital strategic position. Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has possessed the ecological wisdom of "the unity of Heaven and humanity" [2]. However, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the pressure on resources and the environment brought about by the rapid industrialization process has been unprecedented. The Communist Party of China (CPC) clearly recognized that the extensive development model characterized by high consumption and high pollution was unsustainable, viewing the breaking of resource and environmental bottlenecks as a grueling test on the Great Journey [3] toward modernization. To this end, we must abandon the old path of "eating the food of our ancestors and cutting off the road for our descendants" [4] and place the construction of ecological civilization in a prominent position, integrating it into all aspects and the entire process of economic, political, cultural, and social construction. This is not only a profound transformation of the traditional development model but also a solemn commitment to the foundation of survival for future generations, demonstrating the CPC's strong historical responsibility to be accountable to history and the future of the nation. Looking toward the future, we must place ecological civilization construction in a more important and prominent position, firmly establish and practice the concept that "green waters and blue mountains are gold and silver mines," and unswervingly follow the path of civilized development characterized by productive development, affluent life, and a sound ecosystem. We must support high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment, accelerate the promotion of modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature, and comprehensively advance the building of a Beautiful China to open up broad prospects for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization profoundly reveals the important strategic significance of ecological civilization construction and anchors ecological civilization as the only path for national strengthening and rejuvenation. This thought not only clarifies the fundamental status of ecological civilization but also profoundly elucidates its multiple strategic roles in supporting, leading, and shaping the process of Chinese-path modernization. First, this is a strategic choice for the steady and long-term progress of Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "China's socialist modernization has many important characteristics, one of which is that our modernization is a modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, emphasizing the simultaneous advancement of material civilization and ecological civilization." Ecological civilization construction is related to every aspect of modernization; we must unswervingly follow the sustainable path of "protecting during development and developing during protection." Second, this is a strategic cornerstone for consolidating the Party's governing foundation and improving people's wellbeing. "A good ecological environment is the fairest public product and the most universal benefit for people's lives." Ecological civilization construction directly responds to the people’s urgent expectation for a beautiful environment; it concerns the Party’s mission and purpose and is a major political project for consolidating the Party's foundation of governance and winning the hearts of the people. Third, this is a strategic guarantee for maintaining national security and enhancing governance efficacy. By practicing the principle of "protecting the ecological environment with the strictest systems and the most rigorous rule of law" and through reforming and innovating the environmental protection management system and improving the ecological civilization institutional system, we have built an institutional "Great Wall" to safeguard national ecological and resource security. This is a concrete manifestation of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity in a key area. Fourth, this is a strategic support for demonstrating the responsibility of a major power and shaping the environment for national rejuvenation. By actively leading global ecological civilization construction, firmly advancing "dual carbon" commitments [5], and promoting the construction of a community of life on Earth, China contributes to global sustainable development through responsible actions. This has effectively enhanced China's international influence and discourse power, creating a favorable external environment for national rejuvenation.
Vigorously Promoting Innovation in Ecological Civilization Theory, Practice, and Institutions
In terms of theoretical innovation, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is rooted in the scientific Marxist theses on the dialectical unity of humanity and nature and the foundational role of natural productive forces, achieving a breakthrough leap. It creatively put forward the profound proposition that humanity and nature are a community of life, profoundly grasped the integrity and internal laws of ecosystems, and emphasized the systemic concept of the integrated management of "mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts" [6]. The concept that "green waters and blue mountains are gold and silver mines" essentially explains the internal unity of ecological protection and economic development, scientifically demonstrates the attributes of the ecological environment as important natural capital, and reveals the huge potential of productive forces contained in green development. The thesis that "protecting the ecological environment is protecting productive forces, and improving the ecological environment is developing productive forces" has endowed Marxist theory of productive forces with brand-new connotations of the era. The assertion that "a good ecological environment is the most universal benefit for people's lives" firmly anchors the fundamental purpose of ecological civilization construction in the mission of creating a beautiful environment for the people and increasing their wellbeing, profoundly reflecting the people's standpoint and the essential requirements of socialism.
In terms of practical innovation, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization uses scientific theory as a guide to open a new path of development that respects, conforms to, and protects nature. It emphasizes that "promoting the formation of green development methods and lifestyles is a profound revolution in the concept of development," integrating the concept of green development into the entire process and all fields of development. In practice, we have abandoned the old path of sacrificing the environment for economic growth and explored a new path of sustainable development. Based on the concept of a "community of life," we have pioneered the use of systems engineering methods to implement regional and holistic ecological protection and restoration, coordinated the advancement of major regional ecological strategies, focused on rectifying prominent environmental problems, and resolutely fought the tough battle against pollution. We have incorporated "dual carbon" goals into the overall layout of ecological civilization construction, scientifically planning the dialectical relationship between development and emission reduction, the whole and the part, and the long-term and the short-term. We have explored practical paths to synergistically promote ecological priority, conservation and intensive use, and green and low-carbon development, demonstrating Chinese wisdom and firm action in responding to global warming.
In terms of institutional innovation, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization profoundly grasps the long-term and complex nature of protecting the ecological environment, dedicating itself to building the most rigorous and reliable network of rule of law and institutional guarantees to construct the institutional foundation for ecological civilization. The core of institutional innovation lies in the systematic construction of the "four beams and eight pillars" [7] of ecological civilization, establishing a chain of responsibility and restraint mechanisms covering the entire process of strict prevention at the source, strict management in the process, and severe punishment for consequences. This includes reforming and improving the ecological environment protection management system, establishing and strengthening the deterrent Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection system [8], implementing "dual control" over total energy/resource consumption and intensity, improving market-oriented and diversified ecological compensation mechanisms, exploring the establishment of an audit system for natural resource assets when leading officials leave office, and systematically building a modern environmental governance system. At the same time, persisting in and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership runs through the construction and execution of these systems. We have established and improved a rigorous responsibility system that embodies "equal responsibility for the Party and government" and "two responsibilities for one post" [9], ensuring the political direction, systemic planning, and rigid implementation of ecological civilization construction, and continuously lifting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity to new heights in the ecological field.
Significant Strides in the Building of a Beautiful China
Historical changes in ecological civilization construction are reflected in the magnificent scroll of deepening concepts and accumulating achievements. With its distinct timeliness, profound theoretical nature, and powerful practicality, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization has completely reversed the traditional path dependency of "emphasizing the economy while neglecting ecology," achieving a generational leap in the ideological realm of the Chinese nation's sustainable development. The power of thought has catalyzed historical practical achievements: national air quality has significantly improved—in 2024, the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities at the prefecture level and above was 29.3 micrograms per cubic meter, a decrease of more than 30% compared to 2015, with "blue sky days" becoming the norm. The quality of the water environment continues to improve; the proportion of surface water sections with excellent water quality has risen significantly from 67.8% in 2016 to 90.4% in 2024. The stability of the ecosystem has been significantly enhanced; the national forest coverage rate has increased from 16.55% at the beginning of the 21st century to over 25%, with forest area and stock maintaining "double growth" for many years, making China the country with the largest growth in forest resources globally. Solid steps have been taken in biodiversity conservation, with the populations of rare and endangered species such as giant pandas, crested ibises, and Siberian tigers and leopards steadily increasing. This series of historical achievements has profoundly changed the ecological face of the Chinese land, greatly enhanced the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security regarding the ecological environment, and laid a solid foundation for the building of a Beautiful China.
Pivotal changes in ecological civilization construction are contained in the profound revolution of development paradigms and governance systems. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization has led us to cross the "historical chasm" where development and protection were in opposition, achieving a fundamental and global turn in development concepts, development modes, and governance methods. In terms of the development path, we unswervingly follow the road of ecological priority and green development, promoting the optimization and transformation of the energy structure. The installed capacity of hydropower, wind power, and photovoltaic power generation ranks first in the world; the industrial structure is continuously optimized and upgraded, and green and low-carbon industries are flourishing. In terms of governance, we have established and improved the strictest ecological environment protection system. The "sword" of the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection hangs high, covering 31 provinces (regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The "strictest environmental protection law in history" and its supporting regulations exert a deterrent effect with "teeth." Innovative systems such as the River Chief and Lake Chief systems and the Forest Chief system [10] have been fully implemented; the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting system has been practiced in many places, and the ecological protection compensation mechanism is being continuously improved. This series of pivotal transformations marks China's comprehensive shift toward a high-quality development stage that respects, conforms to, and protects nature. It has resolved the deep-seated contradiction between development and protection at its root and opened up the correct path for achieving modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature.
Comprehensive changes in ecological civilization construction are manifested in the profound influence of strategic elevation and value reconstruction. First, it is reflected in the full coverage of the spatial dimension; from cities to villages, from plains to mountains, from land to sea, a pattern of coordinated planning, integrated governance, and systemic protection has taken shape. The concept of the "community of life" encompassing "mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts" has become deeply rooted in people's hearts. Second, it is reflected in the full integration of the sectoral dimension; green lifestyles have become a new fashion, and the concept of "simple, moderate, green, and low-carbon" is deeply ingrained. Green values are widely disseminated, and ecological civilization education has been incorporated into the national education system. Third, it is reflected in the transformation of China's role in international governance. China deeply participates in global environmental governance, actively fulfills its solemn commitments to reach carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and promotes the construction of a fair, reasonable, and win-win global climate governance system, contributing Chinese solutions, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese strength to the joint construction of a clean and beautiful world. In short, ecological civilization construction is no longer a marginalized supporting actor; it is a core link embedded in the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has fundamentally reshaped the goals and value hierarchy of national development, becoming a clear value orientation that condenses social consensus and stimulates the motivation for struggle, leading the great cause of building a Beautiful China forward with giant strides.