"Recycling 1 ton waste paper can produce 0.8 tons of good paper, cut down 17 big trees, save 3 cubic meters of landfill space, save more than half of papermaking resources and reduce 35% of water pollution." At the meeting of the Standing Committee, Standing Committee Feng calculated an account when talking about building a conservation-oriented society: "If the country can recycle 6.5438+0.4 million tons of waste paper every year, it can produce 6.5438+0.65438+0.2 million tons of paper, cut down 238 million trees and save 42 million cubic meters of landfill space; If you can recycle 5 million tons of scrap steel, more than 200,000 tons of waste non-ferrous metals and a lot of waste plastics and glass every year, how many resources can you save and how much pollution can you reduce? "
In Feng's eyes, governments at all levels should play such a role: attach great importance to the construction and management of the recycling system of renewable resources, formulate management methods and regulations for the collection, transportation, disposal and recovery of all kinds of waste resources, recycle or properly dispose of all kinds of waste materials to the maximum extent, and avoid environmental pollution and harm.
Feng called on the government to encourage resource conservation, advocate green consumption, and do a good job of increasing income and reducing expenditure, especially through "exquisite system design" and economic leverage to save energy, materials and water resources. He said that although the National Development and Reform Commission issued a new "Automobile Industry Development Policy" last year, it required to "guide automobile consumers to buy and use" small-displacement vehicles with a displacement not exceeding 1 liter. However, at present, more than 60 cities in China have introduced policies to restrict or restrict small-displacement vehicles in disguise. One of the reasons is that the tail gas emitted by small-displacement cars is easy to exceed the standard.
"In fact, many city authorities are subconsciously worried that small-displacement cars will reduce the city's' taste' and' grade', which is obviously an unscientific development concept." Feng pointed out, "The scientific method should be to strictly implement the exhaust emission standards, promote the technological upgrading of small-displacement vehicles, and encourage the production and use of small-displacement vehicles that meet the exhaust emission standards. Small displacement cars save fuel and roads. I hope that with the advocacy and encouragement of government departments, the use of small-displacement vehicles in society has become a common practice. "
Feng finally said: "Every citizen should abandon the old ideas of ostentation and extravagance, pride, saving face and keeping up with the joneses, and start from the small things around him, saving every piece of paper, electricity, water, oil, rice and coal ... Don't underestimate these small things around us. If everyone permeates the consciousness of saving resources into every detail of life, it will be+10000.86615.
Pan: Building a conservation-oriented society is the only way out.
China is facing a serious shortage of resources.
All countries in the world should embark on the road of sustainable development, building a conservation-oriented society should be the same direction, and conservation should be the virtue of all mankind. But for China, this is particularly important and urgent.
China has a large population, but it is not rich in resources. At present, the level of development is still very low, and the per capita GDP is only one tenth of that of developed countries, which requires vigorous and rapid development. The population of China has reached 65.438+0.3 billion, accounting for 65.438+0.5 of the world, and the peak will reach 65.438+0.6 billion or more. Cultivated land, water, energy, various minerals and other major resources rank last in the world per capita. For example, the per capita arable land is only 1 mu, which is the world average of 1/3, and it is still decreasing. It is extremely difficult to support yourself. If there is110 grain to import, it will crush the world grain market. Another example is oil, which is the world average of110. China needs more than 5 billion tons of oil every year if it consumes according to the current standards of the United States, and the oil produced all over the world is not enough for China. Other mineral resources, such as water and important mineral resources, are now in crisis, and if there is no foresight, the prospect is very dangerous. In addition, the environment in China does not allow such consumption.
This shortage of resources coexists with serious waste and inefficient utilization of resources. No matter from which angle, only building a conservation-oriented society is the only way out.
The adjustment of industry is the biggest saving.
According to the national conditions of China and the spirit of the Central Committee, China must do something, develop and control in the process of industrialization, and the transfer of low-level industries to China is not comprehensive, and the more the better. Those industries that gain a little economic benefit or foreign exchange at the expense of land, water, energy and minerals can't get it down. We should accelerate the upgrading of industrial structure and the transformation of traditional industries into emerging industries. The state should declare that the period of economic development at the expense of resources and environment is over and basically stop developing industries with high consumption, high pollution, low efficiency and low output in the future. All walks of life, provinces and regions should plan, transition, reorganize and introduce industrial systems according to the central spirit and specific conditions, and formulate alternative development processes for traditional industries and emerging industries. We can no longer engage in extensive, extensive and low value-added production. Especially in the eastern region. The adjustment and upgrading of industrial system structure is the greatest saving. No matter how many difficulties there are, we must face them and do them.
This change is not something that can be done automatically by market behavior. Here, the government's macro-control is very important. In other words, the government should plan, guide and standardize this, and guide and even force enterprises to embark on the right path with policies, laws and economic means.
Relying on the development of science and technology to build a conservation-oriented society
To realize new industrialization, promote industrialization by informationization, move from traditional industry to knowledge industry, improve production efficiency, reduce production consumption and develop energy-saving products, all need to rely on scientific and technological innovation and development. China must have strong scientific and technological innovation ability and invention achievements, and the development of scientific and technological innovation is the driving force and supporting force for China to take the road of new industrialization. The state and society must increase R&; D investment, investment must be mainly used for development, application and applied basic research, there must also be channels and guarantees to turn inventions and patents into productive forces, and we must devote ourselves to the cultivation of talents and the development of human resources, otherwise everything will be empty talk.
Let's look at the pharmaceutical industry again. In such a big country, few important specific drugs and medical devices have independent intellectual property rights. Everyone has to buy someone else's patent, and a medicine costs a few cents. It seems that domestic medicine can only produce this calcium tablet as a health care product. I feel sad and ashamed for this. When can we have our own pharmaceutical industry?
It is urgent to carry out national education and establish the concept of saving.
Building a conservation-oriented society is the common task of the whole party and people all over the country. Everyone must have the same understanding and work together to achieve the goal. According to the current situation, it is urgent to carry out national education and establish the concept of saving.
As people in socialist countries, they should have some ideals, have a direction, make some contributions to society and the country, and have a guideline for lifestyle pursuit. The selection criteria are the overall interests and long-term planning of the country and the nation. I always feel that many people, especially the younger generation, have a poor understanding of this aspect. To carry out national education, we must first carry out national education and situation education, so that everyone can know whether the country and the nation can revitalize. Now is a strategic critical period; Fully aware of the grim reality that we are facing a comprehensive shortage of resources. It is necessary to carry forward the traditional virtues of hard work and plain living, diligence and thrift, abandon the wind of extravagance and waste, and let the whole society rise in righteousness and fall in evil spirits. We must choose the right development mode and the right lifestyle to build a civilized, economical, clean and harmonious society. As long as we conscientiously implement the Central Committee's policy and make concerted efforts with Qi Xin, our goal will be achieved and the great cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be accomplished! (Academician Pan China Academy of Sciences, Academician China Academy of Engineering)
Feng Fei: Building a conservation-oriented society can't just stop at slogans.
Interview with Feng Fei, Director of Industrial Economics Research Department of the State Council Development Research Center-
The topic of "building a conservation-oriented society" is as hot as the summer temperature in 2005. Especially recently, more and more forums and conferences around this topic give people the impression that it is not only the theoretical propaganda of experts, scholars and government officials, but also everyone's real life. Why did "building a conservation-oriented society" become a buzzword in 2005? What should China do to make substantial progress in this regard? What role should the government play in this process? On June 25th, 17, China Economic Times reporter interviewed Feng Fei, director of the Industrial Economics Research Department of the State Council Development Research Center. He is one of the main authors of the background report of the international seminar on building a conservation-oriented society to be held by the Development Research Center of the State Council on June 25th, and has been conducting relevant research recently.
Building a conservation-oriented society is the need of the basic national conditions in the new period
China Economic Times: At the Third Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, the Central Committee put forward the strategic policy of vigorously developing a conservation-oriented society. Why do you seem to be particularly concerned by all circles recently?
Feng Fei: At present, the Central Committee has put forward such a strategic policy. The first reason, I think, is determined by the actual national conditions in China. At present, China is facing the theme of development with the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way by 2020. However, in the process of development, new situations have emerged, one is structural change, and the other is rapid urbanization.
In the process of rapid economic development in China, especially after the per capita GDP exceeded $65,438+$0,000, the structural changes were remarkable. This change includes both changes in economic structure and consumption structure. Judging from the changes in economic structure, the characteristics of accelerated development of heavy chemical industry have emerged in recent years. The proportion of heavy chemical industry in industrial added value reached 67.6% last year. Heavy chemical industry is often an industry with high energy consumption and high resource consumption, and its accelerated development is the main reason for the shortage of resources and energy in recent years. Judging from the changes in consumption structure, especially the consumption structure of some urban residents is upgrading from the traditional "basic necessities of life" to "basic necessities of life". The change and upgrading of consumption structure has led to the increase of resource consumption intensity and the change of use direction.
Another new situation is that there is rapid urbanization in China, and the level of urbanization is increasing at an average annual rate of more than one percentage point, which is equivalent to140,000-150,000 people moving from rural areas to cities and towns every year. At present, China's urbanization level is 4 1%, and it is expected to reach about 60% by 2020. Generally speaking, the per capita energy consumption of urban population is 3.5 times that of rural population. The large-scale transfer of rural population is an inevitable trend, which will inevitably increase the consumption of energy resources.
Another basic national condition is the lack of resources per capita in China. China ranks third in the world in total reserves of resources, but its per capita share ranks 53rd, which is only 1/2 of the world's per capita share. A large number of non-tradable resources, such as water resources, are only 1/4 of the world average. By 2030, China's per capita water resources will be 1.700 cubic meters, which may be listed as a country with serious water shortage. At present, China is already a water-deficient country. With the development of economy, the supply capacity and guarantee capacity of domestic mineral resources in China are also insufficient. Among the 45 important strategic resources, in 2020, we will have 9 kinds of serious shortages, 10 kinds of shortages. The so-called shortage means that the dependence of a certain resource on foreign trade is between 40% and 70%, and the serious shortage exceeds 70%.
China Economic Times: It should be said that resource constraints in China have always existed. Is the recent special concern related to the increase in this degree of restriction?
Feng Fei: The second reason I want to talk about is that China's current resource utilization efficiency is low and waste is widespread. Recently, resource constraints have been increasing. Generally speaking, compared with developed countries and some developing countries, China's resource utilization rate is low. Of course, in the past 20 years (1980-2000), China has made remarkable progress in resource utilization efficiency, especially in energy consumption. During this period, the cumulative energy saving rate in China was 64%, while the international level was 19%. While GDP maintained an average annual growth rate of 9.6%, energy growth maintained an average annual growth rate of 4.6%, achieving the goal of economic development relying on energy development and energy conservation. However, in recent years, especially since 2002, the growth rate of energy consumption has exceeded the growth rate of GDP, and the restrictive effect of energy on the economy has begun to appear.
In addition, the waste of resources in China is very serious at present, and the total recovery rate of mineral resources is about 30%, which is 20 percentage points lower than that of developed countries. Statistics show that only the leakage rate of urban water supply in China is above 20%. In terms of building energy consumption, China's energy consumption per unit area is equivalent to 2-3 times that of developed countries with similar climate. China's new building area is about 2 billion square meters every year, which is larger than the sum of the new building areas in developed countries, but energy-saving houses only account for 3.5% of the total. Therefore, in the process of rapid urbanization, if a large number of buildings with high energy consumption are produced every year, their service life is usually 70 to 80 years, which will not only cause great pressure on the current energy, but also endanger future generations. This problem must be solved now. Once a large number of buildings with high energy consumption are built, the cost and expense of future renovation will be even greater.
The third reason I want to say is that the environmental pollution in China is very serious at present. It should be said that China has not got rid of the old road of developing first and then governing. Sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions seriously exceed the upper limit of carrying capacity. Taking sulfur dioxide emission as an example, the environmental capacity can only carry 1.520 tons. At present, we have exceeded this limit and may reach 30 million tons by 2020. Even if all the economic indicators of a well-off society are achieved in this way, the degree of environmental damage is certainly very serious. Such a well-off society is not our goal.
Fourthly, judging from the implementation of Scientific Outlook on Development's requirements, we are still far from this goal. The current growth mode is a high-intensity investment mode of resource and environmental pollution, which does not have the sustainability of development. We should combine our current goals with our long-term goals.
How to make substantial progress in building a conservation-oriented society
China Economic Times: According to past experience, there are many good ideas and methods. When it first appeared, everyone was very enthusiastic. Later, fewer and fewer people mentioned them. How can we make the policy of building a conservation-oriented society not just stay on the slogan?
Feng Fei: To build an economical society, we must take practical measures and make substantial progress. To make substantial progress in building a conservation-oriented society, first, we must grasp the main contradictions, and second, the government should play the role of tangible hand.
What are the main contradictions in building a conservation-oriented society? I think it is the tightening of resource constraints. This austerity is caused by structural reasons. For example, during the period of 1980-2000, China's energy consumption dropped sharply. Why has it increased in recent years? Is the unit energy consumption increasing? No. In fact, the gap between the unit energy consumption of our products and developed countries is narrowing. The problem lies in the structure. In recent years, the heavy chemical industry has accelerated its development. In the current contribution rate of industry to economic growth, nearly 3/4 (73.93% in 2003) comes from heavy industry. There is also a long-term problem, that is, the proportion of service industry in the structure of primary, secondary and tertiary industries in China is too low, which is currently 33%, far below the level of 60%-70% in developed countries. Therefore, to solve the current problem of strong energy constraints, we must solve structural contradictions. Building a conservation-oriented society should start with changing the mode of economic growth and adjusting the industrial structure. Generally speaking, one is to establish a resource-saving national economic system, and the other is to establish a resource-saving lifestyle.
To establish a resource-saving national economic system, we must speed up the development of service industry. Service industry can be divided into two types: production service and life service. In the past, most of our development was life service industry, while the development of producer service industry was relatively weak. This is mainly because producer services are subject to institutional constraints, such as transportation and communication, and there is a strong monopoly and market prohibition. In the future, we should increase the development of producer services.
From the inside of the industry, the accelerated development of heavy chemical industry has its own regularity. Its formation mechanism is related to the upgrading of consumption structure, which generally leads to the upgrading of industrial structure, thus forming some high-growth industrial clusters. In this regard, the government should pay attention to correct guidance and take the road of new industrialization instead of simply containing it.
China Economic Times: How do you think the government should guide it?
Feng Fei: The government has a lot to do. It is suggested to establish three systems first. The first is to establish a standardized, open and transparent project access system. Set higher standards in terms of water, land, environment and other resources. , and only projects that meet the standards can go on, otherwise they are not allowed to go on. Two, the establishment of backward products, processes and equipment elimination system. Third, establish a market access system for important energy-consuming products. For example, cars adopt a strict type certification system, which gives strict conditions for cars to enter the market from the aspects of energy saving, environmental protection and safety.
In addition, we should vigorously develop circular economy and strengthen the recycling of resources. From the perspective of lifestyle, we should advocate the way of saving, enhance the public's awareness of hardship and saving, and guide reasonable consumption behavior.
Second, establish an effective economic incentive mechanism and form a long-term mechanism. From the policy point of view, the most important things are tax policy and price formation mechanism. The price formation mechanism must embody two principles: first, let the price reflect the scarcity of resources and let the price guide the consumption and investment behavior; Second, it should be conducive to the development of new technologies and new energy substitutes, and form a price relationship that is conducive to new technologies, new energy and alternative energy. From the tax point of view, we should pay close attention to the introduction of new energy and environmental protection tax policies. For example, the fuel tax policy has been implemented in Europe and America and has played a very good role. However, it has not been implemented in China, which has caused the trend of large-scale and luxurious automobile consumption to a certain extent. When consumers buy a car, they only consider the one-time purchase cost and ignore the long-term use cost.
In addition, it is necessary to formulate strict standards, formulate energy efficiency and resource efficiency standards for key industries and products, and standardize the energy-saving design of products, especially the energy-saving design of buildings. It is necessary to speed up the formulation of circular economy law and other related laws.
The government must play a leading role.
China Economic Times: Almost all your suggestions are directed at the government, which means that the government plays the most critical role in this process?
Feng Fei: That's right. The problem of resource consumption has strong externalities, and the government must play a role. It can also be said that the biggest and most critical factor is the government. Only when the government plays a correct role can we handle the relationship among government, enterprises and market.
However, at present, the government has many shortcomings in tax policy, law and so on. To some extent, China's achievements in saving in the past depend on the basic allocation of resources by the market mechanism, thus improving the efficiency of resource allocation. However, market mechanism is sometimes inconsistent with externalities, especially in the case of huge defects in laws, standards and fiscal and taxation policies, the failure of market mechanism to resource conservation is much greater. In the new stage of development, the role of the government should be strengthened. Of course, strengthening the role of the government does not mean that the government should directly participate in economic activities, but should provide an institutional environment and policy environment conducive to resource conservation, and ultimately it depends on the market mechanism.
In short, the government is the key, the market is the foundation, the enterprise is the main body, and the participation of the whole society is an important guarantee.
What I want to emphasize in particular is that building an economical society should be a basic national policy in the new period, that is to say, controlling population, saving resources and protecting the environment should be regarded as the basic national policy in the new period. On this basis, we should establish an official evaluation index system that comprehensively reflects economic development, social progress, resource utilization, environmental protection and other factors, and completely change the one-sided pursuit of GDP growth. This has long-term strategic significance. Because this can make people realize the importance of saving resources and put them into action in the period of tight to loose resource constraints, in areas with large and small resource constraints, and in central and local governments.
Unity of consumption and savings
Actively expanding consumer demand and overall saving are two important measures for the government to strengthen and improve macro-control. These two scales seem contradictory, but they have inherent unity in economics. The combination of the two will effectively promote the sustainable development of China's economy and promote the increase and effective utilization of social wealth.
The Chinese nation has a tradition of thrift. In life, clothes can be "new for three years, old for three years, and mended again and again"; In production, it is advocated to repair the old and make use of the waste, so that some antique-grade machinery and equipment with high consumption and low output are still running with diseases. However, modern economics tells us: "The virtue of the past can become the evil of the present." Simply advising people to tighten their belts and save may accumulate unemployment and poverty.
Consumption is the direct driving force of production. Consumer's expenditure is also producer's income. Consumption expenditure can provide people with the first round of employment opportunities and income, work income can urge people to consume again, and people's consumption and expenditure can create the second round of employment opportunities and income ... This continuous process has formed a virtuous circle of the economy and become a multiplier chain, and its utility has been continuously amplified. Because of this, encouraging urban and rural residents to expand consumption has become an important measure of macro-control.
Since consumption is encouraged, can we spend without restraint? The answer is no, there is a limit to everything. The "degree" of consumption lies in the carrying capacity of resources and environment. Lack of resources and fragile environment. For the sustainable development of mankind and for future generations, people's behavior must be restricted. Some people assert that if the consumption of the whole world reaches the current consumption level of Americans (including waste), the resources and environment on the earth can't bear it at all.
The policy of "all-round economy" is a constraint on people's behavior. Saving is divided into saving in the production field and saving in the consumption field. The economy in the production field is measured and standardized by economic benefits, that is, the input-output ratio. What enterprises pursue is to produce more products with the least input. The production of similar products consumes more resources than other manufacturers, which reduces the utility of resources, even belongs to invalid consumption, and is a waste of resources and social wealth. Many enterprises in China have huge resource funnels, and the phenomenon of inefficient or even ineffective utilization of energy resources is more serious. Therefore, paying attention to the conservation and rational utilization of energy and resources is an important issue related to the survival and development of enterprises and the sustainable development of economy. In this regard, the state must take macro-control measures, vigorously advocate strict economy and civilized production, reward enterprises and individuals who save energy and resources, and promote energy-saving technologies, equipment and products; Punish those who fail to meet the standards and even set a ban threshold.
Saving in the field of life is not to prevent people from consuming, nor to reduce necessary consumption, but to advocate moderate consumption and civilized consumption. Samuelson, an American economist, suggested that a consumer with a fixed income and facing a series of market prices should satisfy his consumption expenditure to the greatest extent, or reach a balance with the greatest utility. "Satisfaction" or "utility" is produced by the use value of goods or services, and obtaining "maximum satisfaction" or "maximum utility" is what we often say: value for money, make the best use of everything. As consumers, it is reasonable and just for people to constantly improve their material and cultural lives. Zuo Zhuan quoted an old saying: "Luxury is a great evil." The boundary between good and evil in people's consumption behavior is "utility" and "luxury" The part beyond "utility maximization" is extravagance and waste, such as a lot of food waste caused by bad consumption habits; Some people spend money like water. By extension, it is also a luxury and waste to go beyond objective conditions and engage in "image project" and "performance project" with little practical effect. Of course, "maximum satisfaction" is also limited. Drugs can bring "the greatest satisfaction" to hermits, but this is not allowed by the laws of various countries. People's consumption behavior must be regulated by law and morality.