Where Will China Go? A Viewpoint Based On An Analysis Of The Challenges Of Resource Supply And Pollution

摘要

Relying on the multiple inputs of natural resource and energy, as well as the transformation from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy and open policy, China made a great economic growth in the last few decades and became one of the most important world economic powers. However, the rapid economic growth has engendered serious natural resource depletion and pollution. Pollution and ecological degradation are becoming essential obstacles for China's further growth. Under the situation, the concept of circular economy (CE) was promoted in China as a new development strategy to alleviate the shortage of resource supply by improving the resource productivity and the eco-efficiency of production and consumption, which will accelerate the economic transformation from economic growth to economic development. The difference of the two modes is that economic growth relies on a continuing increase of resource inputs while economic development relies on the improvement of efficiency (resource productivity and eco-efficiency).