Hand over the people's satisfaction with the world's attention to the "green answer sheet"-in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thought ④ civilization | ecology | Xi Jinping

Guangming Forum

Authors: Ye Chao and Liu Zhimin

The achievements of ecological civilization construction in the new era have attracted worldwide attention, becoming a significant symbol of historic achievements and changes in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era.

The environment is people's livelihood, and the blue sky is also happiness. The construction of ecological civilization highlights the development concept of putting the people at the center, with the goal of meeting their aspirations for a better life. In the new era, China continues to promote the upgrading of pollution prevention and control, and protects the ecological environment with the strictest system and the strictest rule of law. Through unremitting efforts, we have delivered a "green answer sheet" that satisfies the people and attracts worldwide attention. The air quality continues to improve, and the average concentration of fine particulate matter in cities at or above the prefecture level in China has continuously decreased in the past 10 years. The average concentration of major pollutants such as inhalable particulate matter has remained stable and met the standard for three consecutive years. In 2022, the proportion of days of severe and above pollution has decreased to less than 1% for the first time, making China the country with the fastest improvement in air quality in the world. The overall stability of soil environmental quality has been maintained, achieving full coverage of all counties at the national soil environmental quality monitoring points. Key areas have carried out soil pollution source control and remediation, effectively curbing the accelerated trend of soil pollution. The water environment quality is stable and improving, and the proportion of high-quality water sections in China is close to the level of developed countries. The black and odorous water bodies in cities at or above the prefecture level have been basically eliminated, and the water quality in key river basins and nearshore waters generally maintains an improvement trend. Through systematic ecological environment governance and the defense of blue skies, clear waters, and pure land, the people have truly felt the improvement of ecological environment quality. The development concept of "green waters and green mountains are as valuable as gold and silver" has deeply rooted in people's hearts and become a consensus.

Heaven and earth coexist with me, and all things are one with me. The construction of ecological civilization embodies the value concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and promotes the construction of a life community between humans and nature.Maintaining the diversity and stability of ecosystems through integrated ecological protection and restoration is actually building an ecological security barrier for sustainable development of human society. In recent years, the central government has invested approximately 10 billion yuan annually to carry out integrated protection and restoration projects for mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands across the country, forming an ecological security spatial pattern dominated by "three zones and four belts". In 2022, the integrated protection and restoration project of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasses and sands in China was selected as one of the first ten "World Ecological Restoration Flagship Projects" by the United Nations, and was rated as one of the most promising, ambitious, and inspiring large-scale ecological restoration examples in the world. Major projects such as natural forest protection, returning farmland to forest and grassland, and Three-North Shelterbelt Program have been further promoted. In the past 10 years, 1.02 billion mu of forests have been planted nationwide, making China the country with the fastest and largest growth in forest resources in the world. Effective measures have been taken to prevent and control desertification, resulting in a net reduction of 5 million hectares of desertification land in the past decade. Key areas of governance have achieved a historic transformation from "sand entering and people retreating" to "green entering and sand retreating". China has achieved the United Nations' goal of zero growth in land degradation ahead of schedule. Through comprehensive, targeted, and multi-disciplinary ecological environment protection and restoration work, China's social ecological system has become more resilient and dynamic, and harmony between humans and the environment, as well as "poetic living", have become a reality.

The road is not far away, and people have no foreign land. The construction of ecological civilization in our country helps to promote the achievement of global sustainable development goals and injects new momentum into global ecological environment governance.In the past decade, China's energy consumption structure has shifted towards clean and low-carbon. The proportion of clean energy consumption has increased by at least 11 percentage points compared to 10 years ago, while the proportion of coal consumption has decreased by more than 12 percentage points, making it one of the countries with the fastest reduction in energy consumption intensity in the world. China has established the world's largest carbon market and clean power generation system, with installed capacity in hydropower, wind power, solar power, and biomass power all ranking first in the world. The green supply capacity has significantly increased, with the production and sales of new energy vehicles ranking first in the world, and the international market share of green powered ships approaching half. Promoting household waste classification according to local conditions, carrying out actions such as saving food, opposing waste, and opposing excessive packaging of goods, has made green lifestyle a trend. In the field of ecological civilization, China has achieved a significant transformation from a participant in global environmental governance to a leader.

The blueprint has been drawn, and the struggle is just right. On the new journey, comprehensively promoting the construction of a beautiful China and accelerating the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature are the sacred missions and arduous tasks bestowed upon us by history.

Guangming Daily

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