New Paradigm of Circular Economy: Theory and Practice of Circular Economy Eco-cities

Author: Sun Guoqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The history of human civilization has demonstrated that the disposable development model is unsustainable. Taking the path of sustainable development and promoting harmony between humans and nature is a profound conclusion and correct choice drawn from the lessons of history. Today, as the ecological environment deteriorates and resources become increasingly scarce, the circular economy model, characterized by "resource-product-renewable resource," has gained increasing attention as one of the two new practical models for advancing sustainable development in the international community in the new century. The circular economy is an economic operation model that and uses matter and energy, resulting in low or even zero pollution emissions in terms of the environment. It prioritizes the efficient and circular use of resources, adheres to the principles of "reduction, reuse, and recycling," and is characterized by low consumption, low emissions, and high efficiency. It aligns with the concept of sustainable development and represents a fundamental transformation of the traditional linear economic model of "mass production, mass consumption, and mass waste." The circular economy integrates clean production, resource utilization, ecological design, and sustainable consumption, applying ecological principles to guide human activities and achieving an ecological shift in economic activities, essentially making it an ecological economy. Since the beginning of the new century, scholars and government officials have increasingly recognized that the growing resource and environmental problems today stem from the linear economic model characterized by "high extraction, low utilization, and high emissions" (so-called "two highs and one low") since the industrial revolution. Consequently, they have proposed that human society should vigorously develop the circular economy, characterized by material closed-loop flow, to achieve the strategic goal of sustainable development, which aims to promote economic growth while ensuring that resource and environmental conditions do not deteriorate and may even improve. Today, developed countries such as Germany, Japan, and the United States are advancing the development of the circular economy and the establishment of circular societies as key approaches and methods for implementing sustainable development strategies. Under the immense pressure of resources and the environment, the Chinese government fully recognizes the significant positive implications of developing the circular economy and has positioned it as a vital vehicle for implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development and the necessary path to achieving sustainable development. As an ideal model for urban construction, the ecological city represents the outcome of urban ecological development. Simply put, it is a form of human settlement that is economically efficient, socially harmonious, and ecologically sustainable, where nature, cities, and people are integrated into a mutually beneficial and symbiotic structure. Specifically, this manifests as efficient and well-functioning economic operations, comprehensive infrastructure, scientifically rational urban planning, beautiful and comfortable living environments, healthy and coordinated ecological cycles, robust supporting systems, and well-developed ecological awareness and cultural literacy among residents. It emphasizes that urban construction and development must fully integrate social, cultural, ecological, and economic factors, achieving efficient use of matter, energy, and information to realize the virtuous cycle of urban ecology and the continuous improvement of living environments, fostering full harmony among people, people and nature, and nature itself. From a theoretical perspective, current domestic research on ecological cities primarily focuses on the fields of ecology and urban planning, with no systematic studies reported on the construction of ecological cities from the perspective of the circular economy. From a practical standpoint, regional ecological construction in China has largely emphasized the aspects of natural ecosystems. Therefore, studying ecological cities from the perspective of the circular economy is undoubtedly a new attempt and innovation. Encouragingly, in Guiyang, a city in China's western region, this attempt is gradually becoming a reality.