The Systems for Ecological and Environmental Protection

The systems for ecological and environmental protection refer to the institutions, laws and regulations that aim to protect the eco-environment, promote an eco-civilization, ensure China's ecological security, and punish those who damage the ecology and pollute the environment.

The report to the CPC's 19th National Congress in 2017 announced the decision to implement the strictest possible systems for ecological and environmental protection. The 19th CPC Central Committee, at its fourth plenary session, included systems for ecological and environmental protection as an important part of the effort to uphold and improve socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China's state governance system and capacity. This signified that the institutional design which began after 2012 had become a component of the state governance system, and that the top-level design of an eco-civilization would now be implemented across the board. 

The strictest possible systems for ecological and environmental protection emphasize a shift from end-of-pipe control to prevention at source, from regional treatment to control of the whole process, from control of point source pollution to comprehensive treatment of the entire river basins and regions concerned, and from addressing individual problems to taking a holistic approach to all mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands. Establishing these systems secures progress toward an eco-civilization. They are needed to address conflict between economic and social development and resource and environmental restraints, promote green development, and build a community of life formed by humanity and nature.

生態環境保護制度

生態環境保護制度，就是在堅持環境保護這一基本國策前提下，在生態環境領域內，建立有利于保護生態環境、打擊破壞生態和污染環境行為的體制機制和法律法規等制度安排，以推動生態文明建設，維護國家生態安全。

中共十九大報告提出，實行最嚴格的生態環境保護制度。中共十九屆四中全會將生態環境保護制度列入堅持和完善中國特色社會主義制度、推進國家治理體系和治理能力現代化的重要內容。這標志著中共十八大以來初步完成的生態文明建設的制度設計正在內化為國家治理體系的重要組成部分，生態文明建設正在從理論和制度上的頂層設計進入全面實施階段。

最嚴格的生態環境保護制度設計，注重從末端治理轉向源頭預防、從局部治理轉向全過程控制，從點源治理轉向流域、區域綜合治理，從個別問題整治轉向山水林田湖草全覆蓋的保護性治理。建立和完善最嚴格生態環境保護制度，是實現生態文明建設宏偉目標的重要保障，是緩解資源環境約束與經濟社會發展之間矛盾、促進綠色發展、推動構建人與自然生命共同體的內在要求。