Ecological Civilization In China Research Articles

The application of green hydrogen in iron ore smelting under the target of carbon neutralization

Currently, green development and sustainable development have become a global consensus. In March 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the sixth comprehensive assessment report Climate Change 2023, which pointed out that greenhouse gas emissions are currently at the highest level in human history, and the global temperatures has been about 1.1 higher than that before industrialization. In July, 2023, the government of China also emphasized that the construction of ecological civilization in China has entered a critical period with carbon emission reduction as the focus. According to the survey, the steel industry in China has the highest carbon emission in manufacturing industry, and it is also one of the most important areas for China to deal with climate change. Based on the basic principle of blast furnace iron making, this paper first analyzes the causes of high emissions in the steel industry, and draws the conclusion that hydrogen metallurgy technology must be developed to achieve low-carbon development; Then, depending on different energy endowments, the differences in metallurgical technology between China and other countries are analyzed, and brief conclusions and suggestions are given on the basis of analyzing the challenges faced by low-carbon development of Chinas steel industry. This study provides insights into the importance of hydrogen metallurgy technology and enhance our understanding of how to achieve low-carbon development in Chinas iron and steel industry.

Analysis of the Coupling and Coordinated Development of Green Investment and Low Carbon Economy

Firstly, based on the review of domestic and foreign scholars' research on green investment and low-carbon economy, this article explores the coupling mechanism between green investment and low-carbon economy. Secondly, based on panel data from 16 cities in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone from 2015 to 2021, a comprehensive evaluation index system for green investment and low-carbon economy is constructed using five indicators: "low-carbon output indicator, low-carbon consumption indicator, low-carbon resource indicator, low-carbon environment indicator, and development capacity indicator." Furthermore, the entropy method is used to determine the weights of various indicators for green investment and low-carbon economy, calculate the comprehensive evaluation index for green investment and low-carbon economy in 16 cities in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, and make a theoretical analysis of the development level of green investment and low-carbon economy in each region. At the same time, a coupling coordination model is used to explore the coupling degree and coupling between green investment and low-carbon economy index in 16 cities in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone from 2015 to 2021. Co scheduling. Finally, from the perspectives of time and space, in order to promote the coordinated development of green investment and low-carbon economy in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, targeted policy recommendations are proposed for the government, enterprises, and the general public, with the aim of making theoretical contributions to the coordinated development of green investment and low-carbon economy, as well as the construction of ecological civilization in China.

Assessment of ecological civilization construction from the perspective of environment and health in China

This study innovatively evaluated ecological civilization in China from the perspective of environment and health. A Composite Environmental Health Index (CEHI) was constructed based on the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) and Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) models. Results showed that significant and sustained improvements were observed in the ecological environment after ecological civilization, while economic development continued to progress at a steady pace. However, the advancement in population health (impact subsystem), exhibited comparatively modest progress, potentially linked to issues such as demographic aging and the enduring consequences of past exposure to environmental pollutants. At the provincial level, the regional development was uneven. The CEHI performance was highest in the eastern regions, followed by the central regions, with the western regions showing the least progress. Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang emerged as top performers with higher CEHI scores, which can be attributed to their favorable geographical positioning and the response subsystem. Conversely, northeastern regions (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) and northwestern regions (Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai) experienced limited advancements in post-ecological civilization implementation. For these underperforming regions, there is a pressing need to intensify efforts aimed at enhancing their response subsystems. In summary, China's pursuit of ecological civilization has yielded significant successes, potentially offering valuable insights for other nations striving for sustainable development. The ecological civilization model's integration of ecological environmental protection into economic, political, cultural, and social constructs may serve as a meaningful reference for the sustainable development of other countries.

Spatiotemporal Differentiation and Its Attribution of the Ecosystem Service Trade-Off/Synergy in the Yellow River Basin

Clarifying the spatio-temporal patterns of ecosystem services trade-off/synergy relationships (ESTSs) and their attribution in the Yellow River Basin is crucial to constructing ecological civilization in China. This study first analyzed the spatio-temporal change of ecosystem services (ESs) including the water yield, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and habitat quality in the Yellow River Basin during 2000–2020 based on the InVEST and RUSLE models. Then, the spatial autocorrelation methods were used to quantify the spatio-temporal differentiation of ESTSs, and the Geo-detector method was employed to identify the contributions of driving factors associated with the natural, social-economic, and regional policy aspects of the ESTSs. Finally, the random forest and analysis of variance methods were used to validate the reasonability of major driving factors obtained by the Geo-detector. The main findings include: (1) In 2000–2020, water yield, soil conservation, and habitat quality increased, and carbon sequestration decreased. The ESs had a spatial pattern of high in the east and low in the west. (2) Overall, there were synergistic relationships between the four Ess. In the spatial distribution of ESTSs, the expansion of the synergy zone and trade-off zone occupied the majority. The synergy zones tended to be concentrated in the northwest and southeast of the study area. In contrast, the trade-off zones were more scattered than the synergy zone, mainly focused on the east-central and southwestern parts of the Yellow River Basin. (3) Geo-detector and random forest both showed that natural factors had a strong explanatory power on ESTSs, in which NDVI is a key driver. Both the results of Geo-detector and the analysis of variance showed that the interactions between natural factors exerted the most significant influence on ESTSs, followed by the interaction between natural factors and socio-economic factors.

Research on the Application of Extended Reality in the Construction and Management of Landscape Engineering

Landscape engineering plays a crucial role in urban construction and the development of ecological civilization in China. It actively designs and modifies natural elements, such as water and mountains, acting as the primary living infrastructure. This field continually receives great recognition and praise. Recent academic research has prioritized the use of extended reality (XR) technology to create a real-time interactive visual environment to tackle the issues presented by the dynamic nature of landscape engineering. This paper utilizes the PRISMA method to filter out 68 research documents related to XR in landscape engineering construction and management for bibliometric analysis. A comprehensive review is conducted on the precise and efficient utilization of XR to solve various issues in the field of landscape engineering. Using Cite Space 6.2.R6 (a visual bibliometric software) to visualize knowledge structures and research topics, the analysis includes temporal and spatial examination, application scenario analysis, and technological hierarchy analysis. The paper summarizes the current challenges that XR still faces in the landscape engineering field and envisions extensible application scenarios for XR, providing a reference roadmap for the implementation of XR in landscape engineering.

College students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of garbage sorting and their associations: a cross-sectional study of several universities in Beijing, China.

In recent years, the Chinese government has placed growing emphasis on environmental development. The implementation of effective waste separation practices in schools is crucial for establishing an ecological civilization in China. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of waste separation among Chinese university students and to understand the demographic factors influencing the KAP of the interviewed students. These sociodemographic factors include gender, age, education, and family environment. Based on the KAP theoretical model and the Lewin behavioral model (LBM), this study developed its questionnaire on college students' KAP of rubbish sorting. A survey was conducted on 1,282 college students from five colleges and universities in Beijing. A one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear stepwise regression analyzes were employed to explore the factors influencing college students' KAP scores on waste sorting. The questionnaire's reliability and validity were effectively verified through two rounds of Delphi expert consultation. The scores for KAP dimensions were 55.64, 69.18, and 54.8%, respectively. The overall KAP score of university students in waste classification was 46.93 ± 9.93, with a percentage score of 62.57%. More than half of the college students lack a clear understanding of waste classification. Grade, gender, major, highest family education, and family economic status all influence college students' KAP scores on waste classification. There is a notable deficiency in school education regarding waste classification, with only 30.7% reporting having received such education. This study unveils the overall KAP score of waste separation among Chinese college students, which is marginally acceptable. The interviewed students exhibit a positive attitude and a willingness to participate in waste separation. However, there is room for improvement in both knowledge and practices. A lack of knowledge about waste sorting emerges as the primary influence on individual-level practices. Consideration should be given to enhancing education and management of waste separation among college students, emphasizing the cultivation of an eco-conscious culture, and guiding students to establish correct ecological values.

From Education for a Sustainable Development to Ecological Civilization in China: A Just Transition?

This article uses just transition to understand the education for sustainable development (ESD) transition in China. The latter has shifted from an internationally recognized response to support sustainable development to an “ecological civilization,” that is, a policy agenda combining domestic environmental and political interests. Using a climate justice framework, this article interprets the ESD transition on three levels: stakeholder engagement, education scope, and environmental governance. The findings reveal that (a) the concept of ecological civilization is heavily political, (b) its scope is limited to environmental sustainability, and (c) stakeholders from the education sector who participated in the new agenda as policy recipients are underrepresented in decision‐making processes. Most importantly, despite the heavy political endorsement of the agenda, many previous challenges associated with ESD, such as lack of policy support, inadequate professional training, and exam pressures, continue at the institutional level. This article recommends establishing an overarching ESD or ecological civilization framework in the education sector to sustain the growing attention given to ecological civilization in the Chinese education sector and calls for further research on the roles of education in just transition in the global context.

College Students ' Ecological Environment Moral Education From the Perspective of Ecological Civilization

This article discusses the ecological environment moral education of college students based on deep learning. This article first points out the concept of deep learning and the relationship between ecological civilization and college students' ecological environment morality. Then, it expounds the latest concepts and achievements of ecological civilization in China, analyzes the deficiencies and reasons of current college students' ecological moral education, and clearly points out the significance of strengthening college students' ecological moral education based on in-depth learning. This article focuses on the main contents and principles of setting suggestions of the ecological environment moral education for college students. Finally, it gives the countermeasures for the ecological environment moral education of college students based on deep learning. It focuses on the theoretical realization of college students' ecological environmental moral education from the perspective of deep learning, aiming at promoting the construction of ecological civilization.

Can China's water rights trading system promote water resources technological innovation?

Water is an important resource that supports economic development and ecological security, and water pollution and water shortage pose a major threat to human survival. Therefore, improving the utilization of water resources and establishing a water rights trading system (WRTS) have become urgent tasks for achieving the goal of sustainable socio-economic development. Water resources technology innovation (WRTI) is an important driver of accelerating the construction of ecological civilization in China. In view of this, it is worth exploring whether a WRTS, as a market-based environmental policy targeting water conservation and water use efficiency, can promote WRTI within the framework of China's national policy of resource conservation and environmental protection. To address this question, this innovative study employs a quasi-natural experiment based on the WRTS implemented in China in 2014. The study selects panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) spanning the period from 2010 to 2020. It empirically examines the effect of the WRTS on WRTI using the difference-in-differences method. The results of the study show that the WRTS significantly increases the level of WRTI in the pilot region. In addition, the study explores the heterogeneity of WRTI across innovation types and administrative levels within the WRTS pilot districts. The results show that the WRTS is effective in stimulating the growth of WRTI. In addition, national-level pilot districts contribute more significantly to WRTI than provincial-level pilot districts. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the role of a WRTS in promoting the optimal allocation of water resources and its combined contribution to water conservation and protection.

National Parks as the materialized imaginary of ecological civilization in China

Through the case of the Three-River-Source National Park, this study mobilizes the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries to scrutinize how China’s ecological civilization as an application of sustainable imaginaries is materialized into national parks. Drawing on the extensive literature of science and technology studies that conceptualizes sociotechnical imaginaries as a vision of an ideal future, this study opens the perspective on the complex relationship between sustainable imaginaries and national parks. By combining content analysis of Chinese policies with semi-structured interviews, this study highlights translation and coordination as the most critical elements in realizing the materialization of ecological civilization. Furthermore, the ecological civilization mobilizes various policy instruments to materialize the national park as its materialized imaginary. Finally, the ecological civilization has shaped China’s specific discourse on sustainable development and has been put into practice through national parks.

More than just pandas: Urgent research needed on China's native plant biodiversity

Conservation of threatened species is essential for achieving sustainable development goals and realizing ecological civilization in China. However, our new survey on endemic threatened angiosperms in the scientific publication database showed that there is still a serious bias in the species' selection and research topics. China's 2117 endemic threatened angiosperm species remain relatively understudied with 41 % of them being not included in any Chinese-language and English-language scientific publications. Furthermore, only 2 % of the 44,383 publications that mention threatened plant species are related to conservation research and over 75 % of them are found behind a paywall. We propose measures to increase and advance conservation research and protection for China's threatened plants, 1) improve long-term and comprehensive research on endemic threatened angiosperms in China, 2) combine conservation research and practices and transfer conservation knowledge to practices timely, 3) promote inter-governmental communication and cooperation, and 4) apply new technologies and methods to conservation studies and practices.

Social Value of Urban Green Space Based on Visitors’ Perceptions: The Case of the Summer Palace, Beijing, China

Urban green spaces play a key role in constructing an ecological civilization in China. In this context, the realization and assessment of the social value of urban green spaces have received increasing attention. Taking the visitors of the Summer Palace in Beijing as the research object, this study used the public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) to collect research data, assess the social value of ecosystem services in the Summer Palace, and determine its spatial distribution. By examining the social value of urban green spaces, this study explored the relationship between the spatial distribution of ecosystem social value and environmental landscape features. The influence of different environmental values on the spatial distribution of the visitors’ perceived social value was also investigated to provide a decision-making basis for the planning and management of urban ecological spaces and the supply and protection of urban ecological products. This study found that cultural, historical, and aesthetic values were preferred by an increasing number of visitors. The hotspots of social value in the Summer Palace of Beijing have three cores and multiple centers. By analyzing the relationship between the three value types with higher preference and the environmental landscape features of the Summer Palace, this study found that the distribution of social values is closely related to the architectural complexes and waters. Anthropocentrists have smaller sample sizes and generally lower social value indices within the sample group, and ecocentrists have higher perceptions of overall social values.

The development of ecological civilization in China based on the economic-social-natural complex system.

China is making great efforts to build an ecological civilization. To reveal the effectiveness and spatial characteristics of the ecological civilization development in China, we constructed an Ecological Civilization Evaluation Index (ECI) based on the economic-social-natural complex system. We evaluated the development level of the ecological civilization in China from 2004 to 2020 and discussed the coupling and coordination relationship between subsystems. We found that the ecological civilization of China has achieved remarkable results. The relationship among the three subsystems has been improved to some extent, but the high-quality development of the economic system still requires effort. The development level of the ecological civilization in China presents spatial heterogeneity. From east to west, 30 provinces can be classified into four different types of development. On the whole, the development of China's ecological civilization has provided experiences for the world.

Investigation and Suggestions regarding Residents’ Understanding of Waste Classification in Chinese Prefecture-Level Cities—A Case Study of Maanshan City, Anhui Province, China

The implementation of waste-sorting policy is conducive to improving residents’ working and living environments, and has positive implications for promoting green development and building in China. As one of the main factors in the implementation of waste-sorting policy, residents’ awareness of and behavior regarding waste sorting and disposal affects its promotion, while policies, incentives and infrastructure will affect residents’ enthusiasm for implementing waste sorting. Taking Maanshan City in Anhui Province as a case study, this paper discusses the current state of progress towards ecological civilization in China; the influence of policy promotion on residents’ perception of it; the correlation between residents’ age and their understanding of waste classification; and the correlation between residents’ enthusiasm, policies and green infrastructure; and puts forward some suggestions for how to enhance green infrastructure and improve residents’ perceptions of waste classification in the future.

Understanding ecological civilization in China: From political context to science.

China's concept of "ecological civilization" can be understood as a new system of development and governance based on the perspective of political decision-making. Environmental management, ecological restoration, and green development are its primary principles-distinctly different from industrial and agricultural-oriented civilizations. In this paper, we evaluate the evolution of political connotations of the ecological civilization concept in China over the past 15years through a textual analysis approach. Additionally, we systematically outline an ecological civilization indicator system and analyze its evolutionary process, applicable scales, and role in guiding the implementation of the ecological civilization concept. Eco-civilization demonstration sites and experiences are also discussed, followed by a review of academic research and policy-making responses. Finally, we propose different perspectives on the outlook for the future of ecological civilization development in China.

Research on the legal system of ecological civilization construction in the new period

The construction of ecological civilization is a thousand years of sustainable development of the Chinese nation. Based on the practical needs, it is imperative to promote the construction of ecological civilization in China. We must be guided by the Marxist view of nature. To promote the construction of ecological civilization in contemporary China, we must innovate the theoretical research of ecological civilization construction and strengthen the consciousness and initiative of ecological civilization construction. Improve science and technology, change production practices; Improve the ecological civilization system, improve the management and supervision mechanism; We will raise our political position and coordinate ecological progress.

Spatial-Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Mechanism Analysis of Urban Space in China’s Three-River-Source Region: A Land Classification Governance Framework Based on “Three Zone Space”

In China’s new era with a territorial spatial governance framework, the delineation of the “Three Zones and Three Lines” is a crucial step in establishing a comprehensive and vertically integrated spatial control system. The changes in the “Three Zone Space,” including ecological space, production space and living space, derived from land use abstractions, reflect the extent and manner of the impact of human activities. It serves as an important link between the macroscale (main functional zones) and the microscale (land use planning). The Three-River-Source Region is an important ecological security barrier and a demonstration area for ecological civilization in China. It is also considered one of the least suitable areas for human habitation in China. This region encompasses extensive protected natural areas, and human settlement space is scarce and valuable. The urban space, as an important spatial component of human habitation, often gives rise to significant conflicts between human activities and the environment during the implementation of development and conservation policies for remote areas in China. However, there is currently insufficient attention given to the human settlement space in this area. Therefore, it is necessary to study the evolution and driving mechanisms of urban spatial development from the perspective of the holistic and systematic nature of the “Three Zone Space”. To achieve this, the article first analyzes the characteristics of urban spatial changes from 1992 to 2020. Then, it utilizes the optimized parameter Geodetector to analyze the driving mechanisms behind these changes. The results show that: (1) urban spatial expansion has continued to grow over the past 30 years, with an increase of 774.56%; (2) agricultural space is the main source of conversion for urban spatial expansion; (3) natural factors have limited influence on urban spatial expansion, while human factors play a significant role with evident spatiotemporal heterogeneity. This study is significant for the governance and protection of river sources, the conservation of ecosystems in ecologically fragile areas, and the sustainable development of cities. It can also provide scientific references for decision-making in ecological environmental protection and the formulation of land use and spatial planning at various levels in pastoral areas.

Assessment of Land Ecological Security Based on the Boston Model: A Case Study from China

Land resources are essential natural resources and strategic economic resources for human survival and development. However, human improper use has brought unprecedented pressure and challenges to the ecosystem. Therefore, the assessment and analysis of land ecological security status and the identification and diagnosis of obstacles affecting land ecological security are helpful to avoid land ecological security problems caused by improper land use at the source and provide a theoretical basis for the sustainable use of land resources and the construction of ecological civilization in China. Based on the data from 2006 to 2020, this study constructed the land ecological risk-evaluation index system and land ecological health-evaluation index system. AHP, entropy method, combination weighting method, TOPSIS model, Boston matrix and obstacle degree model were used to assess the land ecological security situation in Nanyang City and to analyze the obstacle factors. The results show the following: (1) during the study period, the land ecological risk value of Nanyang City exhibited a Kuznets inverted “U” curve change, while the land ecological health value showed a “U” curve change; (2) the overall level of land ecological security in Nanyang City has gradually improved, with a security level pattern of “relatively safe (2006–2020)–unsafe (2011–2016)–relatively safe (2017–2019)–safe (2020)”; (3) the main obstacle factors of land ecosystem were the following: erosion area, sewage discharge, area of waterlogging control, grain sown area, coverage of urban green built-up area and farmland effective irrigated area.

Study on the measurement of industrial eco-efficiency, spatial distribution and influencing factors in Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Nowadays, China insists on the strategy of ecological priority and green development, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt is a pioneering demonstration belt for the construction of ecological civilization in China. Promoting industrial ecological efficiency is of great significance to Chinese sustainable development and high-quality economic development. Based on the provincial panel data of 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region from 2011 to 2020, we use the super-efficient slacks-based measure of efficiency SBM model to measure the industrial eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, reveal the spatial differences in industrial eco-efficiency of different provincial units, and explore the industrial eco-efficiency. The results show that: (1) from the perspective of the Yangtze River Economic Belt as a whole, industrial eco-efficiency is on a stable upward trend, but the efficiency level is not high, and there is more room for improvement; (2) in terms of the spatial distribution of industrial eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, there are significant differences, with industrial eco-efficiency in the downstream region being higher than that in the midstream region and the upstream region, and the lowest in the midstream region, while in terms of the spatial distribution pattern, the industrial eco-efficiency of 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt eco-efficiency has a significant positive spatial autocorrelation; (3) in terms of influencing factors, economic development level, factor endowment, and foreign investment can significantly influence industrial eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The study's result helps provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for promoting the green and ecological development of industries in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Assessing the network characteristics and structural effects of eco-efficiency: A case study in the urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of Yangtze River, China

Crude economic development models create severe environmental pressures. Eco-efficiency (EE) is an important basis for evaluating ecological civilization in China. Under the national strategy of ecological priority and green development in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt, the urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of Yangtze River (UAMRYR) was considered as a case study and an evaluation index system of county EE was constructed based on multi-source remote sensing data, the EE values from 2009 to 2018 were measured by a super slack-based measure (Super-SBM) model, the spatial correlations of EE were revealed by an improved gravity model, the spatial network characteristics of EE were portrayed by social network analysis, and the nature of network effects were further explored by multiple linear regression models. Findings of the study included EE has been shown to be indeed spatially correlated.The EE of the nodes, the differences increased, the transmission pattern was relatively stable, and the association was characterized by bidirectional inequity. The spatial network of EE was characterized by small groups, whose tightness was small and increasingly loose overall, and the overall network operation efficiency is low. In terms of the spatial structure of individual network, the Degree Centrality (DC) showed the circle structure, the Closeness Centrality (CC) demonstrated ‘central collapse’, and the Betweenness Centrality (BC) evolved into five ‘core-periphery’ sub-groups from the ‘circle distribution’. Regarding the structural effects, in terms of EE improvement, the UAMRYR nodes were mainly through the agglomeration effect as well as dissemination channels and spillover paths, the core nodes were self-sufficient, and the edge nodes mainly relied on, the radiation role of core nodes, the transmission role of intermediary nodes, and their own active integration and connection roles. This study provides a new perspective for understanding EE and these findings are important for promoting the synergistic improvement of green development in China and other countries.