Reform of the System for Developing an Ecological Civilization

Reform of the System for Developing an Ecological Civilization

In November 2012, the 18th CPC National Congress articulated its strategic vision for institution building for promoting ecological progress. Related guidelines were unveiled in November 2013 by the 18th Central Committee at its third plenary session, and the need for an effective legal framework was highlighted in October 2014 at its fourth plenary session. An overall plan for institutional reform for promoting ecological progress was jointly issued in September 2015 by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, outlining measures for protection against excessive development, total resource management, ecological compensation, environmental governance, and performance appraisal, among others.

The 19th CPC National Congress reaffirmed the importance of accelerating institutional reform for developing an ecological civilization and building a beautiful China, and specified reform measures, including promoting green development, tackling thorny environmental issues, strengthening the protection of ecosystems, and improving environmental oversight and monitoring.

It emphasized the need to strengthen overall planning and leadership for developing an ecological civilization, and establish regulatory agencies to manage state-owned natural resource assets and monitor ecosystems. A unified environmental protection framework will be in place, under which oversight agencies are authorized to regulate the use of public-owned natural resource assets and land use, to impose appropriate measures to protect and restore ecosystems, and to monitor pollutant discharge amounts in urban and rural areas and take enforcement actions whenever and wherever necessary.

A complete system for land use regulation and protection against overdevelopment will include policies on functional zones and protected areas, especially national parks. Any activity that damages the ecosystems will be subject to punishment.

These strategic measures aim to tackle the thorniest and most serious environmental challenges with targeted actions, and develop policies and laws that support ecosystems protection and improve related institutional structures, so as to modernize China’s national governance system and capacity for ecosystems protection.

生态文明体制改革

2012年11月，中共十八大提出，加快建立生态文明制度的战略部署；2013年11月，中共十八届三中全会提出，加快建立系统完整的生态文明制度体系；2014年10月，中共十八届四中全会要求，用严格的法律制度保护生态环境；2015年9月，中共中央、国务院联合发布《生态文明体制改革总体方案》，从空间开发保护、资源总量管理、生态补偿、环境治理体系、绩效考核等8个方面做出顶层设计。中共十九大进一步提出，加快生态文明体制改革，建设美丽中国。同时部署了推进绿色发展、着力解决突出环境问题、加大生态系统保护力度、改革生态环境监管体制4方面改革措施。中共十九大还强调，加强对生态文明建设的总体设计和组织领导，设立国有自然资源资产管理和自然生态监管机构，完善生态环境管理制度，统一行使全民所有自然资源资产所有者职责，统一行使所有国土空间用途管制和生态保护修复职责，统一行使监管城乡各类污染排放和行政执法职责。构建国土空间开发保护制度，完善主体功能区配套政策，建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系。坚决制止和惩处破坏生态环境行为。

这些战略部署和重大举措，旨在从最棘手、最突出的生态环境问题入手，通过实施专项行动、建立配套政策法规、改革组织架构，提升生态环境领域国家治理体系和治理能力现代化水平。