Deeply Understanding the Theoretical Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization

Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and a major achievement of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization*, Volume I, vividly presents the process of formation and development of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, centrally reflects its core essence, rich connotations, practical requirements, and the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method running through it, and fully demonstrates a series of major original theoretical contributions of this important thought.

习近平生态文明思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，是马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的重大成果。《习近平生态文明文选》第一卷生动呈现了习近平生态文明思想的形成发展过程，集中反映了习近平生态文明思想的核心要义、丰富内涵、实践要求和贯穿其中的马克思主义立场观点方法，充分展示了这一重要思想的一系列重大原创性理论贡献。

I. Realizing the Advancement of Marxist Thought on the Relationship between Humanity and Nature with the Times

一、实现马克思主义关于人与自然关系思想的与时俱进

The relationship between humanity and nature is the most fundamental relationship in human society, and properly handling this relationship is an important part of Marxism. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, proceeding from the objective realities and rich practices of China’s ecological civilization construction, inherits and innovates the Marxist view of nature and ecology, and is the concentrated embodiment of contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century in the field of ecological civilization construction. *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization*, Volume I, comprehensively reflects General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound reflections and scientific answers on the relationship between humanity and nature, and between protection and development, fully demonstrating the enrichment and development of Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature by the Communist Party of China in the New Era.

人与自然的关系是人类社会最基本的关系，处理好人与自然的关系是马克思主义的重要内容。习近平生态文明思想坚持从中国生态文明建设的客观实际和丰富实践出发，继承和创新了马克思主义自然观、生态观，是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义在生态文明建设领域的集中体现。《习近平生态文明文选》第一卷，全面反映了习近平总书记对人与自然、保护与发展关系的深邃思考和科学回答，充分体现了新时代中国共产党人对马克思主义关于人与自然关系思想的丰富和发展。

Creatively applying and deepening the Marxist understanding of the dialectical unity between humanity and nature. Marxism holds that “man lives on nature,” [1]1 Marx, *Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844*. that nature not only provides humanity with sources of means of subsistence, such as fertile soil, rivers and lakes rich in fish, etc., but also provides humanity with sources of means of production. Natural objects constitute the natural conditions for human existence; humans produce, live, and develop in interaction with nature; if humanity treats nature well, nature will also reward humanity, but “if man, by dint of science and creative genius, subdues the forces of nature, they avenge themselves upon him.” [2]2 Engels, *The Part Played by Labour in the Transition from Ape to Man*. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization inherits and develops basic Marxist viewpoints, creatively puts forward concepts such as “harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature” and “humanity and nature form a community of life,” emphasizes that “ecology is a unified natural system, an organic chain of interdependence and close connection,” requires “adhering to a systems perspective, proceeding from the integrity of the ecosystem to promote the integrated protection and restoration of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts,” and stresses that “Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature,” “focusing on simultaneously advancing material civilization and ecological civilization, and taking a civilized development path of production development, affluent living, and good ecology.” Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, with dialectical and systematic thinking, profoundly reveals the holistic nature of the relationship between humanity and nature, enriches and develops Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature with rigorous logic and innovative viewpoints, and endows it with new contemporary connotations.

创造性运用和深化马克思主义关于人与自然辩证统一关系的认识。马克思主义认为，“人靠自然界生活”，自然不仅给人类提供了生活资料来源，如肥沃的土地、鱼产丰富的江河湖海等，而且给人类提供了生产资料来源。自然物构成人类生存的自然条件，人类在同自然的互动中生产、生活、发展，人类善待自然，自然也会馈赠人类，但“如果说人靠科学和创造性天才征服了自然力，那么自然力也对人进行报复”。习近平生态文明思想继承发展马克思主义基本观点，创造性提出“人与自然和谐共生”、“人与自然是生命共同体”等理念，强调“生态是统一的自然系统，是相互依存、紧密联系的有机链条”，要求“坚持系统观念，从生态系统整体性出发，推进山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复”，强调“中国式现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化”，“注重同步推进物质文明建设和生态文明建设，走生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路”。习近平生态文明思想以辩证思维和系统思维深刻揭示人与自然关系的整体性，以严密的逻辑和创新的观点丰富发展了马克思主义关于人与自然关系的思想，赋予其新的时代内涵。

Creatively applying and deepening the Marxist understanding of the dialectical unity between production and ecology. Marxism values the intrinsic value of nature, insists on the unity of economic value and ecological value, and holds that “only when a person initially treats nature, this primary source of all means of labor and objects of labor, as belonging to him, as something to be disposed of by him, does his labor become the source of use-values, and hence also the source of wealth.” [3]3 Marx, *Critique of the Gotha Programme*. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, through scientific analysis from the dual dimensions of natural productive forces and social productive forces, creatively puts forward the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” and the new development concept including the concept of green development, revealing scientific conclusions such as “protecting the ecological environment is protecting productive forces, and improving the ecological environment is developing productive forces” and “new quality productive forces are themselves green productive forces,” profoundly clarifying the dialectical unity between high-quality development and high-level protection, expanding a new path for the development of productive forces, and enriching and developing the Marxist understanding of the dialectical unity between production and ecology.

创造性运用和深化马克思主义关于生产和生态辩证统一关系的认识。马克思主义重视自然的内在价值，坚持经济价值和生态价值的统一，认为“只有一个人一开始就以所有者的身份来对待自然界这个一切劳动资料和劳动对象的第一源泉，把自然界当做属于他的东西来处置，他的劳动才成为使用价值的源泉，因而也成为财富的源泉”。习近平生态文明思想从自然生产力和社会生产力双重维度进行科学分析，创造性提出“绿水青山就是金山银山”理念、包括绿色发展理念在内的新发展理念，揭示了“保护生态环境就是保护生产力、改善生态环境就是发展生产力”、“新质生产力本身就是绿色生产力”等科学结论，深刻阐明高质量发展和高水平保护的辩证统一关系，拓展了生产力发展的全新路径，丰富和发展了马克思主义关于生产和生态辩证统一关系的认识。

Creatively applying and deepening the Marxist understanding of the laws of human social development. Marx and Engels believed that “the more the original isolation of separate nationalities is destroyed by the developed mode of production and intercourse and the division of labor between various nations naturally brought forth by these, the more history becomes world history.” [4]4 Marx and Engels, *The German Ideology*. Today, the worldwide nature of human interaction is deeper and broader than ever before, and ecological and environmental problems are increasingly becoming common challenges and global issues facing humanity. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, standing at the height of the world’s future and the destiny of humanity, expands the perspective of studying the relationship between humanity and nature to a global scope, profoundly perceives the trends of human civilization and the laws of human social development, incorporates the joint construction of a clean and beautiful world into the important goals of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and, from the dimensions of the view of civilization and the view of ecology, opens up a new realm of Marxist thought on the laws of human social development, realizing the advancement of Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature with the times.

创造性运用和深化马克思主义关于人类社会发展规律的认识。马克思、恩格斯认为，“各民族的原始封闭状态由于日益完善的生产方式、交往以及因交往而自然形成的不同民族之间的分工消灭得越是彻底，历史也就越是成为世界历史”。今天，人类交往的世界性比过去任何时候都更深入、更广泛，生态环境问题也越来越成为人类面临的共同挑战和世界性难题。习近平生态文明思想站在世界前途和人类命运的高度，将研究人与自然之间关系的视野拓展到全球范围，深刻洞察人类文明发展趋势和人类社会发展规律，将共同建设一个清洁美丽的世界纳入构建人类命运共同体的重要目标，从文明观、生态观的维度开辟了马克思主义关于人类社会发展规律思想的新境界，实现了马克思主义关于人与自然关系思想的与时俱进。

II. Promoting the Creative Transformation and Innovative Development of Excellent Traditional Chinese Ecological Culture

二、推动中华优秀传统生态文化的创造性转化创新性发展

The Chinese nation has always respected and loved nature. Chinese civilization, spanning more than five thousand years, has nurtured a rich ecological culture, which provides important insights and reference for building an ecological civilization and advancing the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization inherits and promotes the excellent traditional Chinese ecological culture, profoundly elaborates on the inherent laws and essential requirements of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese ecological culture, and provides ideological guidance for achieving the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization*, Volume I, profoundly embodies the profound historical and cultural heritage contained in Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

中华民族历来尊重自然、热爱自然，绵延五千多年的中华文明孕育着丰富的生态文化，对于建设生态文明、推进人与自然和谐共生的现代化具有重要启示和借鉴意义。习近平生态文明思想传承弘扬中华优秀传统生态文化，深刻阐述人与自然和谐共生的内在规律和本质要求，推动中华优秀传统生态文化创造性转化、创新性发展，为实现中华民族永续发展提供了思想指引。《习近平生态文明文选》第一卷深刻体现了习近平生态文明思想所蕴含的深厚历史文化底蕴。

Inheriting the Chinese nation’s ecological values of respecting nature, conforming to nature, and the unity of heaven and humanity. Chinese civilization pursues harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The philosophical thoughts of “unity of heaven and humanity” and “Tao follows nature,” [5]5 “Unity of heaven and humanity” (天人合一) is a core concept in traditional Chinese philosophy, emphasizing the harmony and interconnectedness between the natural world and human society. “Tao follows nature” (道法自然) is from the *Dao De Jing* by Laozi, meaning the Way (Tao) operates according to its own natural course. the classic poetic line “I beg you, sir, do not shoot the spring bird, for its young are waiting in the nest for their mother’s return,” [6]6 A line from the Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi’s poem “Advice to a Bird” (《鸟》). and the family maxim “When eating a meal of porridge or rice, remember how hard it was to come by; when using half a thread or half a strand of silk, always think of the difficulty of producing it” [7]7 A maxim from the Ming dynasty scholar Zhu Bolu’s “Household Management Maxims” (《朱子家训》). all contain simple and wise views of nature, which still provide profound warnings and inspiration today. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly quoted ancient sayings, emphasizing the need to unify heaven, earth, and humanity, to connect natural ecology with human civilization, and to act in accordance with the laws of nature. On the basis of inheriting the Chinese nation’s ecological values, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization profoundly grasps the dialectical unity between humanity and nature, and puts forward important concepts such as ecological civilization construction being a fundamental plan for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and adhering to harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, laying a solid cultural foundation for the whole society to correctly understand the relationship between humanity and nature, build a socialist ecological civilization, and continuously enhance the identity of Chinese culture.

传承中华民族尊重自然、顺应自然、天人合一的生态价值观念。中华文明追求人与自然和谐共生。“天人合一”、“道法自然”的哲理思想，“劝君莫打三春鸟，儿在巢中望母归”的经典诗句，“一粥一饭，当思来处不易；半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰”的治家格言，都蕴含着质朴睿智的自然观，至今仍给人以深刻警示和启迪。习近平总书记多次引用古语，强调要把天地人统一起来、把自然生态同人类文明联系起来，按照大自然规律活动。习近平生态文明思想在传承中华民族生态价值观念基础上，深刻把握人与自然的辩证统一关系，提出生态文明建设是关系中华民族永续发展的根本大计、坚持人与自然和谐共生等重要理念，为全社会正确认识人与自然关系、建设社会主义生态文明，持续增强中华文化认同，奠定了坚实文化根基。

Drawing on the Chinese nation’s ecological wisdom of friendly protection and rational use of nature. “Take only what is needed, use only what is necessary” is the essence of ecological civilization. Our ancestors recognized the importance of the ecological environment very early on. “Heaven nurtures things at certain times, and the earth produces wealth in limited quantities” [8]8 A saying from the Tang dynasty statesman Lu Zhi (陆贽). expresses the truth that ecological resources are limited and need to be cherished. “Draining the pond to catch all the fish—is it not possible? But there will be no fish next year” [9]9 A saying from the ancient text *Lüshi Chunqiu* (《吕氏春秋》), attributed to Lü Buwei. warns people not to over-exploit nature, otherwise they will suffer the consequences. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization draws on the ecological wisdom of friendly protection and rational use of nature from the long history of Chinese civilization, emphasizes that development models like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs or draining the pond to catch all the fish have come to an end, and that green development conforming to nature and protecting ecology points to the future. It stresses the need to confine economic activities and human behavior within the limits that natural resources and the ecological environment can bear, to leave time and space for natural ecology to recuperate, to invigorate traditional ecological wisdom in the practice of contemporary China’s ecological civilization construction, and to endow the ecological civilization construction of the New Era with distinct Chinese cultural characteristics.

汲取中华民族友好保护自然、合理利用自然的生态智慧。“取之有度，用之有节”，是生态文明的真谛。我们的先人很早就认识到生态环境的重要性。“天育物有时，地生财有限”，道出了生态资源有限、需要珍惜的道理。“竭泽而渔，岂不获得？而明年无鱼”，警示人们对自然不能过度索取，否则将自食恶果。习近平生态文明思想汲取中华文明历史长河中友好保护自然、合理利用自然的生态智慧，强调杀鸡取卵、竭泽而渔的发展方式走到了尽头，顺应自然、保护生态的绿色发展昭示着未来，强调要把经济活动、人的行为限制在自然资源和生态环境能够承受的限度内，给自然生态留下休养生息的时间和空间，推动传统的生态智慧在当代中国生态文明建设实践中焕发出新的生机活力，使新时代生态文明建设呈现出鲜明的中华文化特色。

Drawing on China’s historical experience in elevating the concept of nature protection to a national management system and legal decrees for ecological governance. In China’s vast ancient classics, many propositions and historical facts are recorded about protecting the ecological environment through the establishment of rules and institutions. In ancient times, China very early elevated concepts about natural ecology to a national management system, specifically establishing institutions in charge of mountains, forests, rivers and marshes, and formulating policies and decrees—this was the Yuheng system. [10]10 The “dual carbon” goals refer to China’s pledge to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The *Rites of Zhou* records the establishment of “Mountain Yu to administer the decrees of mountains and forests, to set boundaries for things and to enforce prohibitions,” and “Forest Heng to patrol the prohibitions of forest foothills and to balance their guards.” During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Yuheng system was divided into forest officials, lake officials, pond officials, garden officials, field officials, and so on; it continued down to the Qing dynasty, when the Yuheng system still existed. General Secretary Xi Jinping has cited the Yuheng system to expound on the importance China has attached to natural ecological protection since ancient times, emphasizing that protecting the ecological environment must rely on institutions and the rule of law, and that the formulation and revision of relevant laws in areas such as the ecological environment, resources, and energy must be advanced in a coordinated manner, using the strictest institutions and the most rigorous rule of law to protect the ecological environment, and striking a “combined punch” of law, market, science and technology, and policy. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization draws on China’s ancient ecological governance experience, promotes the coordinated development of ecological protection and cultural heritage, guides China in accelerating the top-level design and institutional system construction of ecological civilization, ensures good governance with good laws, makes the institutional safeguards for promoting harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature more complete and more robust, and drives the continuous improvement of the ecological environment governance system in the New Era.

借鉴中国历史上把保护自然观念上升为国家管理制度和律令的生态治理经验。在我国浩如烟海的古代典籍中，记载了很多通过建章立制保护生态环境的主张、史实。我国古代很早就把关于自然生态的观念上升为国家管理制度，专门设立掌管山林川泽的机构，制定政策法令，这就是虞衡制度。《周礼》记载，设立“山虞掌山林之政令，物为之厉而为之守禁”，“林衡掌巡林麓之禁令，而平其守”；秦汉时期，虞衡制度分为林官、湖官、陂官、苑官、畴官等；往后延续到清代，虞衡制度都一直存在。习近平总书记曾引用虞衡制度阐述我国自古以来对自然生态保护的重视，强调保护生态环境必须依靠制度、依靠法治，要统筹推进生态环境、资源能源等领域相关法律制定修订，用最严格制度最严密法治保护生态环境，打好法治、市场、科技、政策“组合拳”。习近平生态文明思想借鉴我国古代生态治理经验，推动生态保护与文化传承协同发展，指导我国加快推进生态文明顶层设计和制度体系建设，以良法保障善治，促进人与自然和谐共生的制度保障更加完善、更加有力，推动新时代生态环境治理体系不断健全。

III. Marking a New Height in Our Party’s Understanding of the Laws of Socialist Ecological Civilization Construction

三、标注我们党对社会主义生态文明建设规律性认识的新高度

Ecological and environmental protection is a cause that benefits the present and will bring benefits for a thousand generations. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization profoundly grasps the important status and strategic significance of ecological civilization construction in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, systematically answers major theoretical and practical questions such as what kind of ecological civilization to build and how to build it, and elevates our Party’s understanding of the laws of ecological civilization construction to a new height. *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization*, Volume I, vividly demonstrates the scientific grasp of the laws of ecological civilization construction by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, revealing the powerful truth and unique intellectual charm contained within it.

生态环境保护是功在当代、利在千秋的事业。习近平生态文明思想深刻把握生态文明建设在新时代中国特色社会主义事业中的重要地位和战略意义，系统回答了建设什么样的生态文明、怎样建设生态文明等重大理论和实践问题，把我们党对生态文明建设规律的认识提升到新高度。《习近平生态文明文选》第一卷生动展现了习近平生态文明思想对生态文明建设规律的科学把握，彰显出其中蕴含的强大真理力量和独特思想魅力。

The theoretical sublimation and practical crystallization of the Chinese Communist Party’s unremitting exploration of ecological civilization construction. Our Party has always attached importance to ecological civilization construction, continuously explored the dialectical relationship between ecological civilization construction and economic and social development, and formed rich theoretical and practical achievements. In 1973, the First National Conference on Environmental Protection was convened, placing environmental protection on the national important agenda. After reform and opening up, the Party established resource conservation and environmental protection as basic state policies, established sustainable development as a national strategy, and vigorously advanced ecological civilization construction. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always regarded ecological and environmental work as very important; during his work in local areas, he consistently treated this work as a major task, adhered to combining the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee with local specific realities, engaged in profound reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature, creatively proposed many forward-looking concepts, carried out many pioneering practical explorations, and accumulated valuable experience. The political stance, value orientation, path principles, and scientific methods contained therein are consistent throughout, providing important intellectual resources for the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has summarized our Party’s historical experience in grasping ecological civilization construction, inherited and developed the theoretical and practical achievements of our Party’s exploration of ecological civilization construction, based itself on the new characteristics of the times and practical requirements, comprehensively strengthened ecological civilization construction, systematically planned and advanced the reform of the ecological civilization system, vigorously promoted theoretical, practical, and institutional innovation in ecological civilization, put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, with new perspectives, new understandings, and new concepts, endows our Party’s theory and practice of advancing ecological civilization construction with new contemporary connotations, opens up a new realm of our Party’s theory on ecological civilization construction, and is the theoretical sublimation and practical crystallization of our Party’s unremitting exploration of ecological civilization construction.

中国共产党不懈探索生态文明建设的理论升华和实践结晶。我们党历来重视生态文明建设，不断探索生态文明建设与经济社会发展的辩证关系，形成了丰富的理论成果和实践成果。1973年，第一次全国环境保护会议召开，将环境保护提上国家重要议事日程。改革开放后，党把节约资源和保护环境确立为基本国策，把可持续发展确立为国家战略，大力推进生态文明建设。习近平总书记对生态环境工作历来看得很重，在地方工作期间，始终把这项工作作为一项重大工作来抓，坚持把党中央决策部署同本地具体实际相结合，对人与自然关系进行深邃思考，创造性提出许多具有前瞻性的理念，进行了许多开创性的实践探索，积累了宝贵经验，其中蕴含的政治立场、价值取向、路径原则、科学方法等一以贯之，为习近平生态文明思想的形成提供了重要思想资源。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央总结我们党抓生态文明建设的历史经验，继承发展我们党探索生态文明建设的理论和实践成果，立足新的时代特征和实践要求，全面加强生态文明建设，系统谋划推进生态文明体制改革，大力推动生态文明理论创新、实践创新、制度创新，提出一系列新理念新思想新战略，形成习近平生态文明思想。习近平生态文明思想以新的视野、新的认识、新的理念，赋予我们党推进生态文明建设理论和实践新的时代内涵，开拓了我们党关于生态文明建设理论的新境界，是我们党不懈探索生态文明建设的理论升华和实践结晶。

Since the New Era, major steps have been taken in building a Beautiful China. Beijing has significantly improved air quality through continuous air pollution control. In 2024, Beijing had 290 days with good air quality, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the year, setting a new record. The photo shows a view from the Beijing Tongzhou Grand Canal to the Western Hills, taken on July 5, 2025. Photo by Ma Wenxiao.

新时代以来，美丽中国建设迈出重大步伐。北京通过持续治理大气污染，推动空气质量显著改善。2024年，北京空气质量优良天数达290天，占比近八成，创下新纪录。图为2025年7月5日拍摄的从北京通州大运河到大西山的景象。 马文晓/摄

The fundamental guidance and action guide for China’s ecological civilization construction in the New Era. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China’s ecological civilization construction has been in a new historical position, facing many new situations and new problems. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization accurately grasps the pulse of the times, responds to the concerns of the people, and profoundly answers a series of major theoretical and practical questions concerning the fundamental guarantee, historical basis, basic principles, core concepts, purpose requirements, strategic paths, institutional safeguards, and social forces of ecological civilization construction in the New Era, forming a systematic, complete, logically rigorous, rich in content, and profound scientific theoretical system, providing the fundamental guidance and action guide for China’s ecological civilization construction in the New Era. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, our Party has made a series of major strategic deployments for ecological civilization construction from the height of “the great affairs of the state”: [11] in the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, ecological civilization construction is one sphere; in the basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, promoting harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature is one element; in the new development philosophy, green is one component; in the three tough battles, pollution prevention and control is one battle; in the goal of building a great modern socialist country by the middle of this century, a Beautiful China is one goal. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has exerted full force from the aspects of thought

新时代我国生态文明建设的根本遵循和行动指南。党的十八大以来，我国生态文明建设处于新的历史方位，面临许多新情况新问题。习近平生态文明思想把准时代脉搏、回应人民关切，深刻回答了新时代生态文明建设的根本保证、历史依据、基本原则、核心理念、宗旨要求、战略路径、制度保障、社会力量等一系列重大理论和实践问题，形成系统完整、逻辑严密、内涵丰富、博大精深的科学理论体系，为新时代我国生态文明建设提供了根本遵循和行动指南。在习近平生态文明思想指引下，我们党从“国之大者”高度对生态文明建设作出一系列重大战略部署：在“五位一体”总体布局中，生态文明建设是其中一位；在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的基本方略中，坚持人与自然和谐共生是其中一条；在新发展理念中，绿色是其中一项；在三大攻坚战中，污染防治是其中一战；在到本世纪中叶建成社会主义现代化强国目标中，美丽中国是其中一个。以习近平同志为核心的党中央从思想、法律、体制、组织、作风上全面发力，开展一系列根本性、开创性、长远性工作，全方位、全地域、全过程加强生态环境保护，决心之大、力度之大、成效之大前所未有，美丽中国建设迈出重大步伐，我国生态文明建设从理论到实践都发生了历史性、转折性、全局性变化。这集中体现为习近平总书记总结概括的“四个重大转变”，即：实现由重点整治到系统治理的重大转变，实现由被动应对到主动作为的重大转变，实现由全球环境治理参与者到引领者的重大转变，实现由实践探索到科学理论指导的重大转变。实践证明，习近平生态文明思想既源于实践又指导实践，是经过实践检验、具有实践伟力的强大思想武器。新征程上，习近平生态文明思想必将在引领以美丽中国建设全面推进人与自然和谐共生现代化的伟大实践中不断丰富和发展，也必将进一步展现其强大真理力量。

Opening up a new realm for the theory and practice of sustainable human development. Humanity has only one Earth, and the construction of an ecological civilization concerns the future of humanity. Building a global ecological civilization and promoting green, low-carbon, and sustainable development require the concerted efforts of all countries. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization both insists on handling China’s own affairs well, profoundly answering the questions of China and the people, and also insists on embracing the world with a broad vision, profoundly answering the questions of the world and the times. In the face of the global ecological crisis, General Secretary Xi Jinping has elaborated on the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, including the building of a clean and beautiful world, at many major international occasions such as the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity and the Leaders Summit on Climate, calling for jointly building a community of life for man and nature and a community of life on Earth, proposing the Global Development Initiative, which includes the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, and advocating for jointly charting a path for global ecological civilization construction, among other things. As an important participant, contributor, and leader in global ecological civilization construction, China not only strengthens its own ecological civilization construction but also actively assumes international responsibilities, committing to achieving the “dual carbon” goals [10]10 The “dual carbon” goals refer to China’s pledge to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060., leading the process of global climate change negotiations, promoting the joint construction of a green Belt and Road Initiative, actively participating in and leading global environmental and climate governance, and promoting the building of a fair, reasonable, and win-win global environmental governance system, demonstrating the global vision and sense of responsibility of a major party and a major country, and contributing China’s solutions, China’s wisdom, and China’s strength to global ecological civilization construction. The series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies put forward by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization are not only an important content and distinctive hallmark of the path of Chinese-path modernization but also a transcendence of the Western modernization development path centered on capital, characterized by materialistic expansion, and following the pattern of “pollute first, treat later.” They are an important content and major achievement of the new form of human civilization, opening up a new realm for the theory and practice of sustainable human development.

开辟人类可持续发展理论和实践的新境界。人类只有一个地球，生态文明建设关乎人类未来。建设全球生态文明，促进绿色、低碳、可持续发展，需要各国齐心协力。习近平生态文明思想既坚持办好自己的事情，深刻回答中国之问、人民之问，又坚持胸怀天下，深刻回答世界之问、时代之问。面对全球生态危机，习近平总书记在联合国生物多样性峰会、领导人气候峰会等许多重大国际场合，阐述包括建设清洁美丽世界在内的构建人类命运共同体理念，呼吁共同构建人与自然生命共同体、共同构建地球生命共同体，提出包括坚持人与自然和谐共生在内的全球发展倡议，主张共谋全球生态文明建设之路，等等。中国作为全球生态文明建设的重要参与者、贡献者、引领者，既加强自身生态文明建设，又主动承担国际责任，承诺实现“双碳”目标，引领全球气候变化谈判进程，推动共建绿色“一带一路”，积极参与和引领全球环境与气候治理，推动构建公平合理、合作共赢的全球环境治理体系，展现了大党大国的天下胸怀和责任担当，为全球生态文明建设贡献了中国方案、中国智慧、中国力量。习近平生态文明思想提出的一系列新理念新思想新战略，不仅是中国式现代化道路的重要内容和鲜明标识，也是对西方以资本为中心、物质主义膨胀、先污染后治理的现代化发展道路的超越，是人类文明新形态的重要内容和重大成果，开辟了人类可持续发展理论和实践的新境界。

Building a Beautiful China is an important goal of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The vast number of Party members, cadres, and the masses should, in conjunction with studying the first volume of *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization*, deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, firmly establish and practice the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, place the building of a Beautiful China in a prominent position for building a strong country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, advance ecological and environmental work in the new journey with a higher stance, a broader vision, and greater efforts, support high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment, and write a new chapter in the construction of an ecological civilization in the New Era.

建设美丽中国，是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的重要目标。广大党员、干部、群众应结合学习《习近平生态文明文选》第一卷，深入学习贯彻习近平生态文明思想，牢固树立和践行绿水青山就是金山银山的理念，把建设美丽中国摆在强国建设、民族复兴的突出位置，以更高站位、更宽视野、更大力度推进新征程生态环境工作，以高品质生态环境支撑高质量发展，谱写新时代生态文明建设新篇章。

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心