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  Legal Daily Commentary: Contributing Chinese Legal Wisdom to Global Ecological Civilization

Recently, 10 Chinese environmental and resource adjudication cases have been included in the United Nations Environment Programme's environmental law database, specifically in the section on Chinese environmental judicial decisions. These cases, along with the 2016 and 2017 English versions of the "China Environmental and Resource Adjudication" white papers, are featured with summaries and links on the legal and case studies section of the UN's multilateral environmental agreements information portal. This marks the first time Chinese judicial cases have been systematically and continuously published on a dedicated section of the UN website. This demonstrates international recognition of China's achievements in ecological and environmental protection and highlights China's outstanding contribution to global environmental protection through its legal system. It further proves that China is a significant participant, contributor, and leader in global ecological civilization construction.

The Chinese nation has always respected and loved nature. Five thousand years of Chinese civilization has fostered a rich ecological culture. We uphold the Taoist concept of the harmony between humanity and nature, emphasizing harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and advocating for moderation in resource use. Respect for nature is reflected in all aspects of Chinese culture. Undeniably, rapid modernization has altered the traditional interaction between humans and nature. Similar to the development trajectory of all industrialized nations, China's ecological civilization construction faces severe challenges alongside its rapid economic growth.

Problems arising from development must ultimately be solved through development. Legal means are among the preferred methods for resolving such problems. Addressing environmental issues requires leveraging the rule of law to promote ecological civilization, particularly by effectively utilizing legal thinking and methods. Integrating ecological civilization construction into the legal framework, using the strictest regulations and the most robust legal system, ensures its sustainable and healthy development. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has incorporated ecological civilization construction into the "five-in-one" overall layout and the "four-pronged comprehensive" strategic layout. Ecological civilization construction has been enshrined in the Constitution, accelerating top-level design and institutional system construction, strengthening ecological and environmental legal construction, establishing and implementing the central environmental protection inspection system, vigorously promoting green development, and driving historical, transformative, and comprehensive changes in ecological and environmental protection. This has ushered in a new journey towards building a beautiful China.

Under the guidance of the new development philosophy, the central environmental protection inspection system is playing an increasingly significant role in addressing prominent ecological and environmental problems. Judicial organs, through various judicial means such as environmental public interest litigation, are strictly cracking down on environmental pollution crimes, playing an increasingly prominent role in effectively curbing ecological and environmental crimes. Through multifaceted efforts, the ecological security strategic layout is ensured, strictly adhering to ecological protection red lines, environmental quality bottom lines, and resource utilization upper limits. Emphasis is placed on ecological protection and restoration, building ecological security barriers, and using effective legal means to regulate production and life within the carrying capacity of resources and the environment.

A large amount of evidence shows that China has made significant achievements in ecological civilization protection in recent years: the institutional system is rapidly taking shape; energy and resource consumption has significantly decreased; forest coverage has continuously increased; ecological and environmental governance has been significantly strengthened; the environmental situation has improved; and the initiative and self-awareness of the whole society in implementing the concept of green development are continuously improving. Ecological civilization construction is advancing in depth.

"Ecological prosperity leads to civilizational prosperity; ecological decline leads to civilizational decline." Ecological civilization construction is a fundamental undertaking related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. Especially at present, ecological civilization construction is at a critical, challenging, and opportune period. The vast number of people eagerly anticipate further improvements in ecological and environmental quality. All regions and departments must persevere and strive to fully leverage the role of the rule of law, accelerate institutional innovation, strengthen institutional implementation, strictly crack down on illegal and criminal activities that pollute the environment, resolutely win the battle against pollution prevention, and contribute more Chinese legal wisdom to global ecological security and ecological civilization while creating a good production and living environment for the people.

Source: Legal Daily