Zhao Jianjun: Deeply Comprehend the Scientific Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the construction of ecological civilization. It has strengthened the construction of ecological civilization through theoretical innovation, practical exploration, and institutional building, scientifically summarizing the theoretical fruits, practical outcomes, and advanced experiences of this process to form, enrich, and perfect Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. This Thought provides scientific answers to a series of fundamental questions—such as why we build an ecological civilization, what kind of ecological civilization we should build, and how to build it. It profoundly elucidates the epochal background, fundamental principles, core tenets, and methodological paths of ecological civilization construction in the New Era. It constitutes an integral part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and represents a major achievement in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture [1]. Profoundly grasping the worldview significance and methodological value of this important Thought is of great theoretical and practical importance for advancing the building of a Beautiful China [2] and realizing a modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature.
The first volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization collects the most important and fundamental writings of General Secretary Xi Jinping on the construction of ecological civilization from December 2012 to April 2025. From these seminal works, we can gain a deep understanding of the scientific worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and continuously deepen our cognition and grasp of a series of major theoretical and practical issues in New Era ecological civilization construction, such as the relationship between humanity and nature, and between production and ecology.
Deepening and Sublimating the Cognition of Nature and the Understanding of the Relationship Between Humanity and Nature from the Dimension of Worldview
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization enriches and develops Marxist theory regarding the relationship between humanity and nature, innovatively inherits the ecological wisdom within fine traditional Chinese culture, and critically transforms Western ecological schools of thought concerning the human-nature relationship. From the dimension of worldview, it deepens and sublimates the cognition of nature, thoroughly revolutionizing the image of humanity as a conqueror, destroyer, and controller of nature. It provides a worldview foundation for deepening the understanding of nature and has formed a discourse and theoretical system of "harmony between humanity and nature" that leads the world and possesses Chinese characteristics, contributing wisdom and strength to the sustainable development of human civilization.
Reinterpreting the vital significance of nature for the sustainable development of human civilization with a global vision and perspective. The history of human civilization shows that nature is the foundation of human existence and the bedrock of civilizational development; the state of the natural environment directly affects the rise and fall of human civilizations. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization systematically summarizes the experiences and lessons from the history of human civilization, scientifically reveals the importance of a favorable natural ecology for the development of civilization, and—on the basis of scientifically grasping natural laws—profoundly elucidates the natural determinants of civilizational development. Proceeding from a historical perspective on the rise and fall of civilizations and a global vision that encompasses "the world as a whole" [3], it expands and deepens the cognition of the natural world and the human-nature relationship.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization interprets the decisive role of the natural world in the survival of human civilization from the height of its sustainable development. Marxism holds that humanity lives on nature, and nature provides the indispensable sources of the means of subsistence and the means of production. As "latecomers" to and an integral part of the natural world, human production and life must take the natural environment as their carrier; human practical activities can never escape the constraints of natural laws, and the gifts of nature support the continuation and evolution of human civilization. Even the most advanced civilizations and cultures cannot exist apart from a natural environment suitable for them. It can be said that the ecological environment is directly related to the reproduction and survival of the human race. Historically, most human civilizations that produced brilliant achievements originated in regions with good natural ecological environments; however, alongside the unbridled exploitation of nature, many civilizations vanished into the long river of history due to ecological degradation. In "Promoting China's Ecological Civilization Construction to a New Level," General Secretary Xi Jinping scientifically summarized the dialectical relationship between changes in the ecological environment and the rise and fall of civilizations, making the scientific judgment that "when ecology prospers, civilization prospers; when ecology fails, civilization fails." This profoundly delineates the vital role of nature in civilizational survival. The natural world is the fundamental prerequisite for human existence and social development. Under the new epochal background, emphasizing the proper handling of the human-nature relationship and promoting the realization of harmony between humanity and nature centrally demonstrates the worldview significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization demonstrates the global ideal of working together to build a shared home for humanity with a broad international perspective. Against the complex backdrop of "vague changes unseen in a century" [4], ecological and environmental issues are increasingly becoming significant factors threatening the survival of human civilization and have become a shared concern for all countries. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized on many international occasions the importance of ecological civilization construction for global development and human civilization. For instance, "Jointly Forging a Path for Global Ecological Civilization and Striving to Build a Clean and Beautiful World" points out: "We should uphold the concept of coexistence between humanity and nature, treat the ecological environment like our own lives, hold nature in awe, respect nature, follow nature’s laws, and protect nature, jointly safeguarding the irreplaceable Earth home." It emphasizes that "we must resolve the contradictions brought about by industrial civilization, aim for harmony between humanity and nature, and realize the sustainable development of the world and the well-rounded development of individuals." General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to and promotes international cooperation in ecological environmental governance, producing a series of important discourses on advancing global environmental governance and sustainable development. In "Working Together for Green Living and a Beautiful Home," he noted: "Building a beautiful home is the common dream of humanity. Facing ecological challenges, humanity is a community with a shared future where everyone prospers or suffers together; no country can remain aloof. Only through cooperation can we effectively respond to global environmental issues such as climate change, marine pollution, and biological protection, and achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals."
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization upholds the concept of harmony between humanity and nature, emphasizing the vital importance of the natural world for the survival of human civilization. This important Thought, standing at the height of responsibility for future generations and the fate of humanity, and based on a grand vision of civilizational sustainability, sketches a magnificent blueprint and practical path for jointly building a community of all life on Earth and a clean and beautiful world. It reflects profound reflection on the future and destiny of humanity. The scientific worldview of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization provides value guidance and a fundamental follows for our in-depth understanding of the laws of natural development and the human-nature relationship, our scientific cognition of nature's significance to civilization, and our efforts to achieve harmony between humanity and nature.
Reshaping the holistic cognition of the human-nature relationship from the dimension of worldview and forming the theoretical basis and ideological paradigm for interpreting harmony between humanity and nature. The systematic discourse of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization regarding the human-nature relationship not only reshapes the holistic cognition of the "Nature-Human" complex system from a worldview perspective but also provides a solid theoretical foundation and ideological paradigm for promoting harmony between humanity and nature.
The worldview significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is centrally reflected in its inheritance and innovation of the Marxist view of nature, achieving a historical reconciliation between humanity and nature in the New Era from a theoretical dimension. In "Promoting China's Ecological Civilization Construction to a New Level," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To learn from Marx, we must study and practice Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature." The Marxist view of nature scientifically demonstrates that humans are products of nature and part of nature. Based on practice, the Marxist view of nature emphasizes, on the one hand, the priority and objectivity of nature relative to humanity—humanity must act according to natural laws, or else face nature’s ruthless revenge; on the other hand, it emphasizes human subjective initiative, holding that humans are not entirely passive before nature and should fully exert their agency to grasp and utilize natural laws to achieve harmony. The 2018 National Conference on Ecological Environmental Protection proposed principles for advancing ecological civilization in the New Era, emphasizing "adhering to harmony between humanity and nature." Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization persists in and develops the Marxist view of nature, closely integrating it with the practice of ecological civilization construction in New Era China. It has creatively proposed a series of hallmark and original concepts such as "building a life community between humanity and nature" and "jointly building a community of all life on Earth," investing the Marxist view of nature with new theoretical meaning and epochal connotations.
The worldview significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is further manifested in its promotion of the ecological wisdom found in fine traditional Chinese culture, endowing it with vivid theoretical vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Chinese nation has always respected and loved nature; the Chinese civilization, spanning over five thousand years, is imbued with a rich ecological culture." Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization inherits and develops ecological concepts such as "the unity of heaven and humanity" [5] and "the simultaneous nourishment of all things," emphasizing: "Chinese civilization has always advocated the unity of heaven and humanity and following the laws of nature [6], pursuing harmony between humanity and nature." This important Thought draws wisdom from ancient Chinese views of nature and scientifically borrows from the development view of "taking with restraint and using with moderation" [7]. It emphasizes "limiting economic activities and human behavior within the bounds of what natural resources and the ecological environment can sustain, leaving time and space for nature to recuperate." This provides scientific epistemological guidance for correctly understanding and handling the relationships between production and ecology, and between development and protection, leading the way to coordinating socio-economic development with population, resources, and the environment. This Thought also scientifically absorbs the institutional view of "following heaven and responding to the seasons, establishing rules and systems" [8], drawing experience from ancient Chinese systems for protecting the environment and natural resources to clarify the use of the strictest systems and most rigorous rule of law to protect the environment. Through the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese ecological culture, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization demonstrates profound historical vision and deep cultural accumulation.
The worldview significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is also expressed in its critical engagement with and borrowing from Western ecological worldviews, constructing a new paradigm of human-nature relations with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization transcends the dualistic "anthropocentric" and "ecocentric" modes of thinking found in traditional Western ecological theories. It clearly identifies respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature and promoting harmony between humanity and nature as distinct characteristics of Chinese-path modernization. At the same time, based on a profound summary of the developmental paths and painful lessons of Western modernization, it summarizes the Chinese approach to ecological civilization construction. It emphasizes "jointly building a community of all life on Earth," "joining hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity," and "jointly planning global ecological civilization construction," providing a scientific worldview for effectively responding to global environmental issues. By combining theory and practice, it leads the transformation of the paradigm of human ecological civilization and deepens the understanding of harmony between humanity and nature.
Providing Scientific Methodological Guidance for Advancing Ecological Civilization Construction in the New Era
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization not only clarifies the theoretical guidance and fundamental follows for advancing ecological civilization and realizing harmony between humanity and nature, but also provides scientific methodological guidance for advancing ecological civilization construction in the New Era, possessing significant practical meaning and epochal value.
Adhering to dialectical thinking that coordinates the diverse elements of ecological civilization construction. In "If Humanity Does Not Fail the Green Mountains, the Green Mountains Will Not Fail Humanity," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Ecological environmental protection and economic development are not a relationship of contradictory opposition, but one of dialectical unity." Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization applies the methodology of dialectical universal connection to advance ecological civilization construction. It integrates ecological civilization into the overall development of the economy, politics, culture, and society. It fully recognizes that ecological environment issues do not exist in isolation; ecological civilization construction and economic, political, cultural, and social construction constitute a dialectical, interacting, and inseparable whole. On this basis, it provides top-level design, scientific planning, and systematic consideration for major issues concerning the fundamental, strategic, and overall aspects of ecological civilization construction.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes:
"In terms of ecological and environmental protection, we must establish a perspective of the overall situation, the long term, and the whole. We cannot lose the great for the small, attend to one thing while losing sight of another, 'eat the grain of tomorrow today' [9], or seek quick success and instant benefits." The 18th Party Congress integrated ecological civilization construction into the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, highlighting its strategic status and clearly proposing the vigorous promotion of ecological civilization construction. The 19th Party Congress incorporated "adhering to the harmonious coexistence between man and nature" into the basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and included "Beautiful China" in the goals for becoming a great modern socialist power. The 20th Party Congress further proposed that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Ecological civilization construction is a complex undertaking that concerns fundamental, global, and long-term interests. Only by rooting ourselves in fundamentals, looking at the global picture, planning for the long term, adhering to and applying dialectical thinking, and persisting in the unity of the "theory of two points" and the "theory of priority points" [10], can we manage the relationships between diverse elements. With historical patience and perseverance, we can deeply advance this fundamental plan that relates to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.
The bottom-line thinking of maintaining strategic resolve in ecological civilization construction. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "We must be adept at using the method of 'bottom-line thinking' [11], preparing for the worst in all things and striving for the best results. Only in this way can we be prepared against adversity, remain calm in the face of events, and firmly grasp the initiative." Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization demonstrates the use of bottom-line thinking to maintain strategic resolve in promoting ecological civilization construction. Bottom-line thinking primarily manifests as focusing on preparing for the worst-case scenario while remaining proactive in action to strive for the best possible outcome. In the process of promoting ecological civilization construction in the New Era, adhering to bottom-line thinking requires a sober realization of the arduousness, long-term nature, and complexity of this task. It means "fixing the umbrella before it rains" [12] and nipping problems in the bud, facing various difficulties and challenges with composed resolve, courage, and confidence.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has always regarded bottom-line thinking as an important cognitive method for strengthening strategic resolve in ecological civilization construction, emphasizing: "The ecological environment has no substitute; we don't notice it when using it, but it is difficult to survive once it is lost." He requires that we "protect the ecological environment like we protect our eyes, and treat the ecological environment like we treat our lives." These statements fully illustrate the extreme importance of adhering to bottom-line thinking and maintaining strategic resolve. In "Maintaining Strategic Resolve in Strengthening Ecological Civilization Construction," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must maintain the resolve to strengthen ecological and environmental protection and construction, without wavering, loosening up, or opening any loopholes." Ecological civilization construction concerns the rise and fall of civilizations and the survival of humanity; it is closely linked to national interests and the people's well-being. We must firmly hold this "red line" for the bottom-line of survival and prosperity, ensuring it is neither crossed nor broken.
Currently, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and China’s economic and social development faces a profoundly changing external environment. Whenever economic and social development encounters difficulties, some people may harbor the idea of slowing down or loosening ecological and environmental protection, or even think about "spreading the stall" [13] and launching projects at the cost of sacrificing the environment in exchange for temporary, localized economic growth—crossing the red line, stepping on the bottom line, or going backward in environmental protection. Such ideas and practices are wrong and unfeasible. In "Promoting Ecological Civilization Construction and Reforming Our Country’s Environmental Protection Management System," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To promote ecological civilization construction and solve the problems of tightening resource constraints, serious environmental pollution, and ecosystem degradation, we must adopt some 'hard measures'." This profoundly indicates that promoting ecological civilization construction must adhere to bottom-line thinking, resolutely ensuring that we do not "cross the Thunder Pool by a single step" [14] on environmental issues, promoting economic and social development within the limits of ecological carrying capacity, and insisting on using bottom-line thinking to fortify the foundation of ecological civilization construction.
Adhering to the systems thinking of ecological governance for the integrated protection and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts. In "Adhering to the Systems Thinking of Mountains, Rivers, Forests, Farmlands, and Lakes as a Community of Life," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must use the ideological methods of systems theory to look at problems. An ecosystem is an organic living body; we should coordinate the management of water and mountains, water and forests, water and fields, mountains and forests, and so on." This profoundly reveals that ecological civilization construction is a systemic project. Only by coordinating all elements of the ecosystem and strengthening collaborative governance can practical results be achieved. Adhering to the systems thinking of integrated management for mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts is one of the methodological characteristics of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. It prominently reflects the use of a holistic, interconnected, dynamic, and developmental perspective to consider and solve ecological and environmental problems. It grasps the organic connections of the natural ecosystem as a whole, understands the essential characteristics, basic functions, and evolution patterns of various natural elements and different ecosystems through the lens of connection and development, and achieves overall coordination and systemic governance in practice. This provides scientific methodological guidance for promoting ecological civilization construction and innovating ecological governance methods.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Management of land use and ecological restoration must follow the laws of nature. If those who plant trees only care about planting trees, those who manage water only care about managing water, and those who protect fields only care about protecting fields, it is easy to attend to one thing while losing sight of another, ultimately causing systemic destruction of the ecology." Adhering to systems thinking in promoting ecological civilization construction focuses on solving problems that once existed in natural resource management and ecological governance, such as "nine dragons managing the water" [15] (fragmented authority), localized management, unclear rights and responsibilities, and mutual interference. This resolves the contradiction between the integrity of ecosystems and the fragmentation of administrative units, thereby promoting ecological civilization more powerfully and effectively.
Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization profoundly points out the direction, goals, pathways, and principles of ecological civilization construction. It is a major theoretical achievement of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. The scientific worldview and methodology contained within it possess significant theoretical innovation and practical guidance, guiding and pushing us to continuously deepen our understanding and mastery of the laws of nature, the laws of economic and social development, and the laws of human civilization's development. In an era where ecological environment issues have increasingly become a severe challenge faced by all countries, the unique path, Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, and Chinese strength contributed by our country's ecological civilization construction provide a reference for countries worldwide to join hands in addressing ecological risks, strengthening collaborative governance, and building a beautiful home together. We should take the publication of the first volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization as an opportunity to deeply study, comprehend, and grasp the scientific worldview and methodology contained therein. We must continuously promote innovation in ecological civilization theory, practice, and institutions. With the broad vision and concern for the world inherent in building a community with a shared future for humanity, we shall promote the construction of a Beautiful China, jointly build a clean and beautiful world, and gather a powerful force for the sustainable development of human civilization.
(The author is a professor at the Central Party School of the CPC (National Academy of Governance))