Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Concerning Accelerating the Promotion of Ecological Civilization Construction

The first document issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on April 25, 2015, to make strategic plans on the construction of ecological civilization based on national conditions. Included in the Selection and Compilation of Important Documents since the 18th National Congress (Vol. 2).

The "Opinions" is divided into 9 parts, with 35 articles in total. The parts are as follows: Overall requirements; Strengthening the position of main functional areas, and optimizing the development pattern of space for land and resources; Promoting technological innovation and structural adjustment, and improving the quality and benefits of development; Comprehensively promoting the economical, recycling and efficient resource utilization, and advancing the fundamental transformation of utilization methods; Enhancing the protection of the natural ecosystem and the environment, and earnestly improving the quality of the ecological environment; Improving the system of ecological civilization; Enhancing statistical monitoring and law enforcement supervision of the development of ecological civilization; Accelerating the cultivation of good social morals of promoting the development of ecological civilization; Earnestly strengthening organizational leadership.

The “Opinions” pointed out that the construction of ecological civilization is an essential part of the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics. It is vital to the people's well being and the future of the Chinese nation and the achievement of the “Two Centenary Goals”, and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The construction of ecological civilization has become a bottleneck hindering sustainable economic and social development. We must firmly establish the awareness of respecting nature, obeying the law of nature and protecting nature. We must recognize the great value of lucid waters and green mountains, mobilize all members of the CPC and the general public to take proactive and persistent actions to promote the development of ecological civilization, speed up the creation of a new environment for modernization featuring harmonious development between man and nature, and usher in a new era of socialist ecological civilization.

Earnestly implementing the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, we must adhere to the human-centered principle and carry out work according to law, stick to the basic state policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment, place the development of ecological civilization at a prominent strategic position and integrate it into all aspects and the entire process of economic, political, cultural and social construction, and ensure that we always have blue skies, green mountains and lucid waters, and realize the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. We must adhere to the following basic principles: basic policy of giving priority to conservation and protection and focusing on natural recovery, basic approach of pursuing green development, circular development and low-carbon development; basic driving force of deepening reform and seeking innovation-driven development; essential pillar of fostering the ecological culture; working method of pursuing comprehensive development with breakthroughs made in key areas. The “Opinions” put forward the main objectives of ecological civilization construction: By 2020, major progress are made in building a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society; the basic layout of main functional areas is formed; the quality and benefits of economic development considerably improve; the mainstream values of ecological civilization is promoted in the whole society; and the development level of ecological civilization is adapted to the target of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

The “Opinions” clarifies the overall requirements, target vision, key tasks and institutional system for the construction of ecological civilization, and outstandingly embodies strategic, comprehensive, systematic and operable nature. It is a programmatic document for promoting the construction of China's ecological civilization at present and in the future, and has profound and long-term significance for accelerating the construction of ecological civilization.