Toward an Ecological Civilization: China’s Progress as Documented by the Second National General Survey of Pollution Sources

Abstract The relationship between environmental quality and economic growth has been a hot topic for decades. After years of rapid industrialization and urbanization, China’s environmental challenges are approaching a turning point. Following the principles of ecological civilization construction, China is on its way to maintaining high-quality and green economic development. On 10 June 2020, the Chinese government reported the key findings of the Second National General Survey of Pollution Sources (fiscal year 2017), which provides strong quantitative evidence of progress toward ecological civilization. In terms of our comparison between the two National General Surveys in 2007 and 2017, it was found that environmental pollution, measured in terms of many wastewater and air emission pollutant discharges, is decreasing despite the steady growth in economic activities—and at a noticeably fast pace. Other national and local governments can adopt some of China’s ecological civilization practices, within their own individual contexts.