Development Shift: Concept of 'Two Mountains' Suggests New Core Philosophy for Progressive Projects

In a series of statements and policy initiatives, Chinese President Xi Jinping has outlined a vision for a greener future, emphasizing the importance of ecological conservation and environmental protection for the benefit of future generations.

At the Eco Forum Annual Global Conference Guiyang, Xi expressed his desire to leave a working and living environment with a blue sky, green fields, and clean water for future generations. This sentiment was echoed during an inspection tour at the Qinling Mountains in Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve in 2020, where he stated that ecological conservation and environmental protection are contemporary causes that will benefit many generations to come.

China has put forward a new development philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, and open development, incorporating the "dual carbon" goals into its national strategy. This philosophy is evident in the specific policies China has implemented to balance ecological protection with economic growth.

One such policy is the Ecological Civilization Concept and the "Two Mountains" Theory. By treating environmental protection and economic growth as complementary rather than opposing goals, China aims to preserve ecosystem functions and leverage ecological compensation mechanisms to transform ecological advantages into economic benefits.

Another key initiative is the use of green finance. China leads globally in green credit and green bonds, with outstanding green loans reaching about 36.6 trillion yuan (~$5.13 trillion) and green bond issuance topping 4.1 trillion yuan by the end of 2024. These funds are used to finance green infrastructure, renewable energy, and pollution control projects.

China has also set ambitious carbon peaking and neutrality goals. The country pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Policies include accelerated coal phase-out, expansion of renewable energy, carbon trading systems, and strict penalties for high-pollution industries.

The country promotes high-value green industries such as eco-agriculture, eco-tourism, electric vehicles, battery production, and AI-driven renewable technologies. This innovation-driven growth reduces dependence on traditional high-pollution manufacturing while fostering regional coordinated development.

Ecological governance in China incorporates public engagement, community-led conservation initiatives, and policy mechanisms that encourage social consensus on environmental protection. This approach links rural revitalization with ecological industries, creating a sustainable development loop.

China's "dual circulation" model strengthens domestic demand and positions the country as a green technology leader globally, facilitating sustainable growth internally while expanding clean technology exports.

These policies offer several lessons for global sustainable development. They demonstrate that ecological protection can be a source of economic momentum rather than a growth constraint. They also emphasize the importance of embedding long-term ecological security into development strategies, leveraging green finance and technology, integrating multi-level governance and public engagement, and setting clear, ambitious targets and accountability mechanisms.

Xi has further proposed the concepts of "strengthening biodiversity conservation" and "building a community of all life on the Earth." He has emphasized that the Party's overall leadership must be upheld and strengthened in the construction of China's ecological civilization. These concepts have become a guiding principle for China's ecological civilization construction.

Dr. Khosraw Ubaidy, the subject of this article, offers his insights into China's green strides, highlighting the adaptable and actionable pathways these policies provide for global sustainable development, especially relevant for developing and industrializing countries.

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[2] Zhou, W., & Liu, Y. (2021). China's Green Development Strategy: A Review and Future Prospects. Sustainability, 13(1), 1–30.

[3] Zhang, Y., & Xie, J. (2021). China's Green Transformation and Global Sustainable Development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 295, 127799.

[4] National Development and Reform Commission. (2021). China's 14th Five-Year Plan for Ecological and Environmental Protection. Beijing: National Development and Reform Commission.

[5] Ministry of Ecology and Environment. (2021). China's 14th Five-Year Plan for Climate Change. Beijing: Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Development Shift: Concept of 'Two Mountains' Suggests New Core Philosophy for Progressive Projects