Reshaping the Relationship between Environment and Development:A Theoretical Framework under the Paradigm of Eco-civilization and Its Policy Implications

This study investigates the sustainability implications of the theoretical models of industrialization and urbanization pioneered by Dixit and Stiglitz^(1) so to open the theoretical “black box” of the unsustainability of the traditional industrialization mode, and shows how to reshape the relationship between the environment and development under the paradigm of ecological civilization. It finds that the theoretical models that “perfectly” simulate the traditional industrialization mode all have the implicit consequence of environmental unsustainability. Nonetheless, this limitation is not due to the problems of the models themselves but is more a result of the limitations of the traditional developmental and neoclassical economics paradigms of the industrial era. Therefore, the consequences of unsustainability cannot simply be avoided through external policies such as technological progress and environmental regulations, nor can they be prevented by simply adjusting some parameters in these theoretical models. Instead, a shift is required in both the developmental and the economics paradigms formed in the traditional industrial era. From an ecological civilization perspective, this study rethinks the basic issues of economics along the two lines of the ends(what) and the means(how) of development;briefly reviews the history of economic thought;and uses a conceptual framework to reorganize the relevant intellectual profundities that are neglected in standard neoclassical economics. The study further formalizes the conceptual framework in a general form model and shows how a paradigm shift in development could shift the trade-offs from the multiple goals of the economy, the environment, and well-being in the traditional industrial era to mutual reinforcement in ecocivilization.

Climate Governance and China’s Role

Global climate governance is an important agenda for China in the face of the drastic changes unseen in a century After more than 30 years of hard work,China’s understanding of the regularity of global climate governance and logic of action both become clear.A new international competition with carbon neutrality as the goal has already begun in the trade-off between individual rationality and collective rationality China’s active participation in the process of global climate governance demonstrates its sense of responsibility as a major country.

Research on the Integrated Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area:Current Situation,Problems,and Countermeasures

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(the Greater Bay Area,the GBA)aims to facilitate in-depth cooperation among the Guangdong,Hong Kong,and Macao regions to create a worldclass bay area-based urban agglomeration.This endeavor seeks to guide China's economy toward high-quality development and comprehensive opening-up.This paper examines the challenges and obstacles faced by Guangdong,Hong Kong,and Macaoregardinggregionalcoordinated development,thus putting forward the following standpoints.It proposes enhancing infrastructure interconnectivity to establish the GBA 1-hour Express Traffic Circle,thereby driving the construction of a worldclass international shipping and logistics hub.Furthermore,the paper advocates for establishing an industrial collaborative development system in the GBA,jointly creatingapilot zoneeforindustrial transformation and upgrading,and further advancing market integration.Creating an international innovation corridor and innovation center for science and technology(S&T)industry is also essential.This initiative would center around critical sectors,improving S&T innovation chain,and building a talent cooperation demonstration zone.The paper also emphasizes the establishment of a transport and logistics hub for the Belt and Road Initiative,along with the joint development of a cultural,economic,and trade exchange platform under the“Belt and Road”framework.Leveraging the comparative advantages of the three regions,the paper underscores the importance of innovative collaboration models,fostering a mutually beneficial and complementary mechanism for synergistic development.These approaches aim to realize the integrated and innovative development of the GBA.

SPECIAL ISSUE:ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE PARADIGM OF ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION Introduction

The global eco-environmental crisis is one of the most serious challenges facing mankind today,and underlying it is the crisis besetting the traditional development paradigm established after the Industrial Revolution.Under the traditional industrialization mode,there is largely a trade-off between environment and development,and economic development inevitably brings about a serious eco-environmental crisis.Therefore,to understand and solve environmental problems,we must take leave of the developmental and economic paradigms of the traditional industrial era,and establish a mutually reinforcing relationship between environment and development under the paradigm of ecological civilization;that is,we must reshape the unsustainable relationship between man and nature formed in the traditional industrial era.

Three Facets of the New Urbanization Strategy’s Coordinated Development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

Since urbanization has remained unbalanced and in­sufficient,the 14th Five-Year Plan(2021-2025)creates three new requirements to reduce geographical gaps.First,it adopts a holistic and coordinated approach to examine ur­banized population,regional economy,and land.Second,it studies how humanity and the economy can grow in tandem by harnessing land.Third,it adapts to the pragmatic de­mands that have emerged in the new stage of urbanization;namely,the need to reconcile regional development while preserving resources and the environment.More specifically,it embodies these new coordinated development require­ments in three facets.