The System of Institutions for Eco-Civilization

The System of Institutions for Eco-Civilization

Establishing a sound system of institutions for an eco-civilization is an important part of Xi Jinping thought on eco-civilization.

According to the overall plan to reform the system for developing an eco-civilization, issued by the central authorities in September 2015, China would set up a complete system of institutions for an eco-civilization by the year 2020, which would feature a clear definition of property rights, participation of diverse entities, and both incentives and constraints.

This system of institutions is composed of the following eight elements:

•a system of property rights of natural resource assets, with clearly defined ownership, rights and responsibilities, and effective supervision, to address such problems as absence of owner and ownership ambiguity;

•a system for developing and protecting territorial space, based on spatial plans and control over usage, to solve such problems as occupation of quality farmlands and ecological space, eco-environmental damage, and pollution as a result of disorderly, excessive or dispersed development;

•a national unified spatial planning system with tiered management, with spatial governance and structural improvement as the main elements, to address such problems as conflicting plans, overlapping functions of government departments, and frequent changes in local regulations;

•a system for total consumption control and comprehensive resource conservation, based on science, procedures and strict management, to address such problems as serious waste and low utilization efficiency;

•systems of eco-compensation and paid use of natural resources, which reflect supply and demand, scarcity of resources, the value of nature, and inter-generation compensation, to address such problems as insufficient value being given to natural resources and their products, production and development costs that are lower than social cost, and insufficient compensation for eco-environmental protection;

•an environmental governance system for improving the environment, with unified regulation, strict law enforcement, and participation of diverse parties, to address such problems as weakness in pollution prevention and control, overlapping regulation functions, mismatch between powers and responsibilities, and inadequate sanctions against law violations;

•a market system for using more economic levers to help environmental governance and eco-environmental conservation, to address such problems as immature market entities and market system, and lack of public participation; and

•a system of performance review and accountability for eco-environmental damage, which fully reflects resource consumption, environmental damage and ecological benefits, to address such problems as incomplete performance assessment, unfulfilled responsibilities, and inadequate accountability for damage.

生态文明制度体系

坚持和完善生态文明制度体系，是习近平生态文明思想的重要内容。2015年9月，中共中央、国务院印发《生态文明体制改革总体方案》，明确生态文明体制改革的目标是，到2020年，构建起产权清晰、多元参与、激励约束并重、系统完整的生态文明制度体系。

构建生态文明制度体系主要涵盖八个方面：构建归属清晰、权责明确、监管有效的自然资源资产产权制度，着力解决自然资源所有者不到位、所有权边界模糊等问题。构建以空间规划为基础、以用途管制为主要手段的国土空间开发保护制度，着力解决因无序开发、过度开发、分散开发导致的优质耕地和生态空间占用过多、生态破坏、环境污染等问题。构建以空间治理和空间结构优化为主要内容，全国统一、相互衔接、分级管理的空间规划体系，着力解决空间性规划重叠冲突、部门职责交叉重复、地方规划朝令夕改等问题。构建覆盖全面、科学规范、管理严格的资源总量管理和全面节约制度，着力解决资源使用浪费严重、利用效率不高等问题。构建反映市场供求和资源稀缺程度、体现自然价值和代际补偿的资源有偿使用和生态补偿制度，着力解决自然资源及其产品价格偏低、生产开发成本低于社会成本、保护生态得不到合理回报等问题。构建以改善环境质量为导向，监管统一、执法严明、多方参与的环境治理体系，着力解决污染防治能力弱、监管职能交叉、权责不一致、违法成本过低等问题。构建更多运用经济杠杆进行环境治理和生态保护的市场体系，着力解决市场主体和市场体系发育滞后、社会参与度不高等问题。构建充分反映资源消耗、环境损害和生态效益的生态文明绩效评价考核和责任追究制度，着力解决发展绩效评价不全面、责任落实不到位、损害责任追究缺失等问题。