Properly Handling Five Relationships in Advancing Ecological Conservation

First, the relationship between high-quality development and high-standard environmental protection. On the one hand, we must maintain harmony between humanity and nature when planning our development, ensuring that economic and other human activities remain within resource and environmental carrying capacities in line with the notion that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. On the other hand, high-standard environmental protection will allow us to constantly generate new development drivers and strengths and build a green, low-carbon, and circular economy. This will help bolster the potential and sustainability of our development on an ongoing basis.

Second, the relationship between key tasks and coordinated governance. Given the complexity of environmental elements, the integrated nature of ecosystems, the contiguity of natural geographical units, and the need for sustainable socioeconomic development, we must take a holistic and systematic approach to conserving and improving mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, and desert ecosystems and refrain from treating superficial symptoms with stopgap measures. To this end, steps should be taken to coordinate industrial restructuring, pollution control, ecological conservation, and climate response, and concerted efforts should be made to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development, and pursue economic growth.

Third, the relationship between letting nature restore itself and pursuing human restoration efforts. A comprehensive framework for ecological conservation should be set up to remediate ecosystems from the mountaintop to the ocean, with a commitment to building a community of life for humanity and nature. In this process, using a combination of natural and artificial methods, we should tailor measures to local conditions and current situations to find optimal solutions to protect and restore ecosystems.

Fourth, the relationship between external constraints and intrinsic motivation. Energy should be devoted to promoting the concept of ecological civilization, fostering ecological culture, and drawing on the profound ecological values rooted in China's traditional culture. By doing so, we can raise public awareness of the need to conserve resources, protect the environment, and preserve ecosystems, and encourage the extensive engagement of the whole society in concerted environmental protection efforts.

Fifth, the relationship between our commitment to and independent actions for peak carbon and carbon neutrality. Our commitment to "dual carbon" goals is unwavering, but the path, methods, pace, and intensity by which they are attained will be decided by us and not influenced by others.

In terms of the path and methods, we need to press ahead with initiatives under the "1+N" policy framework for reaching peak carbon and carbon neutrality based on China's energy and resource endowment. This will enable us to accelerate the formation of industrial structures, modes of production, ways of life, and spatial layouts that are conducive to resource conservation and environmental protection. With regard to the pace and intensity, we ought to work toward the “dual carbon” goals in a well-planned and phased manner in line with the principle of building the new before discarding the old. Resolute moves must be taken to prevent a rush to launch energy-intensive and high-emission projects ahead of the deadline for peak carbon, as well as campaign-style carbon reduction drives featuring unrealistic goals and one-size-fits-all approaches.

Editor: Wang Cuifang