Ecological civilization is an ideal state as well as a realistic objective. Active effort to promote ecological civilization and harmony between man and nature is a historic duty of utmost importance bestowed upon environmental workers by the general situation of socioeconomic development. Directing towards the goal of promoting historic transformation of environmental protection, the idea harbors the soul of the environmental protection cause at this new stage. We must assess, plan and solve evident environmental problems through the strategic thought and approaches of ecological civilization and feel a way out for sustainable economic growth at little cost of environment. That is to say, we should adhere to the guidance of ecological civilization while making energetic effort to explore a new path to environmental protection with Chinese characteristics.
马克思主义哲学观认为，事物的发展只有在其前后对比中才能看得明，事物的主流只有经过不同方位的审视才能认得清。探索环保新道路也不例外，要坚持理论联系实际，一切从实际出发。改革开放30年是我国环保事业大发展的30年，也是不懈探索中国特色环保新道路的30年，既有成功的经验，也有沉痛的教训。总结30年来的探索实践，展望未来的发展趋势，环保新道路具有以下鲜明特征。
Marxist philosophy believes that development of things can only be discerned through comparison between their past and current state, so is the mainstream of things. There is no exception to our exploration of a new path to environmental protection. We should combine theory with practice and proceed from reality. The three decades of reform and opening up witnessed dramatic development of China’s environmental protection cause and our unremitting effort to seek a new path to environmental protection. The 30 years recorded success stories as well as lessons from bitter experience. We can find the following distinct characteristics of the new path through a review of the 30-year exploring practice and a look into the future.
从探索历程看，新道路具有继承性和创新性。探索新道路是一个不断“扬弃”的过程，继承是基础，创新是动力。每个阶段的探索都是实践的检验和积累，每一次创新都是实践的总结和升华。从1973年第一次全国环保会议提出“全面规划、合理布局、综合利用、化害为利、依靠群众、大家动手、保护环境、造福人民”的32字方针，到1983年第二次全国环保会议把环境保护明确为一项基本国策，1989年第三次全国环保会议提出“八项环境管理制度”，再到2006年第六次全国环保大会提出“三个历史性转变”，都是在探索中继承和创新的结果。
The exploring process indicates this new path is a continuation and innovation of past experience. Based on past experience and driven by the urge of innovation, we need to carry forward the useful and discard the useless. Exploration at every stage is in fact a process to test practice and accumulate experience and each innovation is a review and distillation of practice. The first national conference on environmental protection in 1973 proposed a guideline to make overall plan and rational distribution, use resources and turn disadvantages into benefits, rely on the people to protect environment and bring benefit to the nation. In 1983, the second national conference specified environmental protection as a basic state policy, the third conference in 1989 identified eight systems on environmental management and the sixth one in 2006 put forward the idea of three historic transformations. All this is the result of continued yet innovative way of exploration.
从探索重点看，新道路具有多重性和阶段性。一切事物都是动态发展的过程，环境问题也是如此。经济社会发展的不同阶段，环境问题有其不同表现。我国正处在推进工业化和城镇化阶段，环保新道路既要为新型工业化服务，又要用生态文明来跨越和修正传统工业文明的弊端。我们在探索新道路过程中必须坚持远近结合，把探索新道路的实践放在“三步走”、“两个100年”、“重要战略机遇期”和“全面建设小康社会”进程中来看，放眼长远，同时又要根据工业化和城镇化的进程，抓住特定阶段的主要矛盾和最突出问题，及时调整探索重点。
The exploration focuses on different key points at different stages. All things are in a dynamic process of development, so with environmental problems. Environmental issues vary at different stage of socioeconomic development. China is now undergoing industrialization and urbanization, so this new path has to serve the need of new industrialization and resort to ecological civilization to surmount and correct the shortcomings of traditional industrial civilization. We need to consider the short-term and long-term goals while exploring the new path and get geared to different historical processes such as three-step development strategy, important period of strategic opportunities and building a well-off society in an all-round way. While taking a long view, we should grasp the main contradiction and prominent issues of specific stage according to the progress of industrialization and urbanization and make timely adjustment of the priority of exploration.
从探索内涵看，新道路具有包容性和开放性。环境问题是“世界问题复杂体”，涉及自然、政治、经济、文化、社会和技术等多种因素，随着实践的不断深入，其内涵还会进一步扩大，外延也会进一步扩展，包容性会越来越强。环境保护是一项关系人民群众根本利益、经济社会长远发展和中华民族复兴的伟大事业，这就决定新道路的探索必然是一个海纳百川、高度开放的系统工程，需要全社会共同关心、共同参与、共同建设、共同促进。
In terms of the intension of exploration, this new path is characterized by inclusiveness and openness. As environmental problem is a compound of world issues involving many factors relating to nature, politics, economic, cultural, social and technological aspects. As the practice deepens, both intension and extension will further expand with greater inclusiveness. Environmental protection concerns the fundamental interest of the people, long-term development of socioeconomic development and revival of the Chinese nation. That means, the exploration effort must be highly open to the society and needs care and participation of all the people.
从探索任务看，新道路具有长期性和艰巨性。实践永无止境，探索永无止境。环境问题随着经济社会的发展不断变化，需要我们一代接一代人的坚持不懈的探索。发达国家上百年出现的污染问题，在我国快速发展的过程中集中出现，呈现出压缩型、结构型、复合型的特点，使环境问题变得更加复杂，探索环保新道路的任务更加艰巨，这就要求我们不为任何困难所惑，不为任何风险所惧，始终保持清醒头脑，努力在实践中探索，在探索中实践。
The task of exploring a new path to environmental protection is a long-term and arduous process. Practice is infinite, exploration never stops. Environmental problems are constantly changing along with socioeconomic development, which calls for unswerving exploration from one generation to another. Pollution issues that occurred in developed countries over a hundred years pop up in China in a short span of rapid development with combined and compact features. This has compounded the complexity of environmental problems as well as the difficulty in the search for the new path. Therefore, what we should do is to defy any hardship and keep sober-minded, practicing while exploring.
从探索途径看，新道路具有实践性和针对性。环保新道路的探索源于环保实践，根本目的在于指导环保实践，具有很强的针对性和实践性。我们必须坚持理论和实践的统一，目标和手段的统一，面对错综复杂的局面，善于抓住和解决主要矛盾，有的放矢地去探索。
The way to explore suggests the new path is practical and effective to solve China’s environmental problems. This attempt originated from practice and aims to guide environmental practice. Faced with the complicated situation, we must unite theory and practice, objective and means to grasp and solve major contradiction.
坚持以建设生态文明为指导，积极探索中国特色环保新道路，是全国环保系统深入贯彻落实科学发展观的重要举措，环保工作者要按照学习实践活动形成的共识: 把科学发展观作为政治信仰来追求、作为科学真理来坚持、作为行动指南来践行的总体要求，继承30年来探索实践的成果，站在新的历史起点上，牢牢把握正确的探索方向，坚持不懈地探索下去。
Following the guidance of ecological civilization and actively exploring a new path to environmental protection with Chinese characteristics is an important move of the whole environmental protection system to thoroughly implement Scientific Outlook on Development. All environmental workers should pursue Scientific Outlook on Development as their political belief, scientific truth and guidance of action in line with the consensus reached in the learning activities. We should carry forward the achievements of 30-year exploration and hold onto the right direction at a new start and continue for ever.
第一，正确处理环境与经济的关系，继续推进环境保护历史性转变。探索环保新道路，首先要求我们在思想上正确认识环境与经济的关系，其核心就是要加快实现环境保护历史性转变。从重经济增长轻环境保护转变为保护环境与经济增长并重，从环境保护滞后于经济发展转变为环境保护和经济发展同步，从主要用行政办法保护环境转变为综合运用法律、经济、技术和必要的行政办法解决环境问题。历史性转变是科学发展观在环境保护领域的具体体现，是环境保护所处历史方位的准确判断，是全面调整环境与经济关系的重要指南。推进历史性转变必须把环境保护摆在更加突出的战略位置，与经济社会发展统筹考虑、统一安排、同时部署；积极推进科学民主决策，着力转变不适应、不符合历史性转变的思想观念，着力解决困扰环保事业长远发展的突出问题；加快重点领域和关键环节的改革步伐，着力构建充满生机、富有效率、更加开放、有利于历史性转变的体制机制。
First, we should properly handle the relation between economic development and environmental protection and keep on promoting historic transformation of environmental protection. The essential requirement on exploration of the new path is to have correct understanding of the relation between environmental protection and economic development and accelerate the transformation of environmental protection. We will transform the past development mode preferring economic growth to environmental protection into the one focusing on both economic growth and environmental protection; we will transform the situation of environmental protection lagging behind economic development into the one where the two advance at the same pace and we will transform the past approach dominated by administrative tools in protecting the environment into the one that comprehensively utilizes legal, economic, technical and necessary administrative methods to address environmental problems. Historic transformation is the embodiment of Scientific Outlook on Development in the field of environmental protection. It is sound judgment of the position of environmental protection in history and important guidance for overall adjustment of the relation between environmental protection and economic development. To promote historic transformation we should put environmental protection at a more important position and make arrangements taking account of socioeconomic development. We need to promote scientific and democratic decision-making, changing ideas unfit to historic transformation and concentrating on notable issues hindering the long-term development of environmental protection cause. Reform in key areas should be quickened with a view to forming a favorable mechanism that is vigorous, effective and more open.
第二，正确处理全局与局部的关系，制定与我国基本国情相适应的环境保护宏观战略体系。在社会主义初级阶段，我们强调发展是第一要务，既不可能为了保护环境而减缓发展甚至停止发展，但发展必须与节约资源、保护环境同步推进，也绝不允许宽容污染，保护环境是必须长期坚持的基本国策。环境保护必须与基本国情及其阶段性特征相适应。把环境保护上升到国家意志的战略高度，融入经济社会发展全局，坚持 “以人为本、科学发展、环境安全、生态文明”的环境保护宏观战略指导思想，把环境保护的基本国策与实施可持续发展战略和科教兴国战略，与走新型工业化道路和社会主义新农村建设，与区域发展、产业振兴等重大战略规划结合起来，统筹考虑环境问题，逐步建立起有利于环境保护的宏观战略体系。
Second, we should handle the relation between the part and the whole correctly and develop a macro strategic system fit into China’s conditions. At an early stage of socialism, we take development as a paramount task, which cannot be slowed down or stopped for the sake of environment. However, development should be promoted in parallel with resource conservation and environmental protection. Pollution should not be tolerated. Environmental protection is a basic state policy that we will long pursue. Environmental protection must be compatible with China’s national conditions and the features of its development stage. We need to see environmental protection from a strategic perspective as a political will, integrated into the overall situation of social and economic development. Under the guidance of putting people first, scientific development, environmental security and ecological civilization, we need to combine the basic state policy with the strategy of pursuing sustainable development and rejuvenating the country through science and education, new path to industrialization and building a new socialist countryside and major plans for regional development and industrial rejuvenation, taking a holistic approach to environmental issues and gradually establishing a macro strategic system conducive to environmental protection.
第三，正确处理预防和控制的关系，建立全防全控的防范体系。建设生态文明，不同于传统意义上的污染控制和生态恢复，而是修正工业文明弊端，把环境保护的理念和要求全面渗透到经济社会发展之中，构筑有效防范环境污染和资源环境损耗的重要防线。我们必须从再生产全过程制定环境经济政策，将环境保护的理念贯穿于生产、流通、分配和消费的各个环节，将保护环境的要求体现在工业、农业、交通运输、建筑和服务等各个领域，落实到政府机关、学校、科研院所、社区和家庭等社会组织的各个方面，建立起全面覆盖经济社会发展的环境保护体系；不断创新生产理念，大力发展循环经济，推进清洁生产，对传统产业实行生态化技术改造，从生产源头和全过程减轻环境污染。
Third, we should appropriately address the relation between prevention and control and put in place a full-fledged precautionary system. Different from traditional practice of pollution control and ecological rehabilitation, ecological civilization is to mend the ills of industrial civilization, instill the concept and requirement of environmental protection into social and economic development and create a major line of defense that will effectively prevent environmental pollution and resource waste. Environmental economic policies should be developed given the whole process of reproduction so that the concept of environmental protection is maintained in all links including production, circulation, distribution and consumption and the requirement is set for various sectors covering industry, agriculture, transport, construction and service and implemented by governments, schools, institutions, communities and families. In this way we will establish a system for environmental protection integrating social and economic development. We should promote innovative ideas on production, boost the development of circular economy and clean production and make green-tech reform of traditional industries to reduce environmental pollution at source and throughout the whole process.
第四，正确处理成本和效果的关系，健全高效的环境治理体系。建设生态文明，探索环保新道路，要求从根本上建立人与自然之间平衡与和谐。我们不能坐等大自然自行修复人类造成的伤害，而要充分发挥人的主观能动性，积极运用自然规律，实施高效的环境治理，科学地修复和改善自然，在更高的层次上实现人与自然的和谐。依靠科技进步，坚持自主创新，积极探索科技含量高、投入资金少、环境效益好的治理模式，在有效防范的前提下，以最少的投入取得最大的治理成果，从根本上减轻环境压力；从我国区域发展不平衡、城乡差异大的实际出发，积极研发高效实用、丰富多样的环保治理技术。
Fourth, we should deal with the relation between cost and effect in a right manner to improve the efficiency of environmental treatment system. The fundamental of ecological civilization and the new path to environmental protection is to seek balance and harmony between man and nature. We cannot sit by, waiting for the nature to redress the harm done by human beings. Instead, we need to take initiative and apply the rule of nature to carry out effective environmental treatment. Scientific methods to rehabilitate and improve natural environment will help to achieve true harmony between man and nature. We should rely on technological advance and uphold independent innovation with a view to developing a high-tech, cost-effective pattern for environmental treatment. With effective precautions we aim to achieve the best result from the least investment to alleviate environmental pressures. Based on imbalance in regional development and big gap between urban and rural areas, we need to develop diversified environmental technologies that are efficient and practical.
第五，正确处理发展与保护的关系，完善与经济发展相协调的环境政策法规标准体系。发达国家的实践证明，完善的环境政策法规标准体系与完备的环保基础设施、调整优化产业结构一道，共同构成改善环境质量的三大支柱。因此，建立健全与现阶段社会经济发展特点和环境保护管理决策相一致的环境政策法规标准体系尤为重要。我们必须全面分析经济社会发展状况，准确把握经济社会发展走势，适时调整和完善环境政策法规标准，保护先进生产能力，淘汰落后生产能力，使环境保护真正成为引领先进生产力发展的重要航标。
Fifth, we will properly address the relation between economic development and environmental protection and improve environmental policies, legislations and standards that are compatible with economic development. Proved experience of developed countries tells us that full-fledged policies and standards, complete infrastructures and optimized industrial structure constitute the three pillars for environmental improvement. Hence, it is of paramount importance for us to set up and improve environmental policies, legislations and standards that conform to current stage of social economic development and environmental decisions. We need to take stock of current economic situation, grasp the trend of social economic development and timely adjust and improve environmental policies. We will make environmental protection the real leader for the development of advanced productive forces by protecting state-of-the-art production capacity and phasing out backward capacity.
第六，正确处理政府主导与公众参与的关系，构建完备的环境管理体系。加强环境保护，政府是主导，群众参与是重要的社会力量。必须充分发挥社会主义制度的优越性，不断完善党委领导、政府负责、环保部门综合管理、有关部门协调配合、全社会共同参与的环境管理体系。加强环境综合管理，积极探索大部门环境管理体制。加强环保组织管理体系建设，推进管理机构向基层延伸，强化地方环保部门基础能力，形成政令畅通、高效有力的决策执行系统。团结和动员各方面的力量，发挥人民群众的聪明才智和创造热情，形成环保工作合力。
Sixth, we should have correct understanding on the relation between government leadership and public participation and set up a complete environmental management system. Government plays a leading role in strengthening environmental protection while public participation is the major social force. We should give full play to the advantages of socialist system and constantly improve the environmental management system which is led by the Party committee, in the charge of governments, managed by environmental protection departments and coordinated by related departments with the participation of the whole society. We will strengthen comprehensive environmental management and explore a super-ministry environmental management system. Efforts are needed to build up the management system of environmental departments, promote management in grassroots level and improve the capacity of local environmental protection departments in order to form a highly effective decision-making and execution system. We should work out synergy by mobilizing all social forces and giving play to the talents and creativity of the people.
总之，探索中国特色环境保护新道路，要高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，深入贯彻科学发展观，以建设生态文明为指导，加快推进环境保护历史性转变，建立健全与我国基本国情相适应的环境保护宏观战略体系、全防全控的防范体系、高效的环境治理体系、与经济发展相协调的政策法规标准体系和完备的环境管理体系，努力实现人与自然和谐相处、经济与环境协调发展，全面建设资源节约型、环境友好型社会。
In a word, to explore a new path to environmental protection, we need to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement Scientific Outlook on Development, follow the guidance of ecological civilization and accelerate historic transformation of environmental protection. We will establish a macro strategic system accommodating Chinese conditions, a complete precautionary system, an effective environmental treatment system, environmental policies and regulations compatible with economic development and a full-fledged environmental management system in a bid to achieve harmony between man and nature, balanced development between economy and the environment and build our country into a resource-efficient and eco-friendly society.
当前，国际金融危机仍在扩散和蔓延，尚未见底。历史经验表明，每一次经济危机都是一次对经济发展乃至文明进步的洗礼。哪个国家能够在危机中抓住主要矛盾并科学解决，就能在危机后从更高起点上更加稳健地发展。反之，则可能陷入社会危机的困境，甚至使发展成果毁于一旦
责任编辑：sealion1986
