Reports & Statements

Eco-nomics for an Ecological Civilization
David Korten/Club of Rome, 2024
Our modern lives are largely determined by economic policies shaped by prevailing economic theory. Yet current economic theory serves us well only if our societal purpose is to exploit people and Earth to make money for the already rich. This economics is better named ego-nomics, as its focus on personal financial return is more ego (from the Latin “I”) than eco (from the Greek “oikos” meaning household). In our current interdependent world, our household is Earth and all its living beings. This publication by David Korten introduces a new economic model, “eco-nomics,” essential for fostering a life-centric civilisation. This model aims to replace the outdated ‘ego-nomics,’ which prioritises personal gain over our collective future. Korten emphasises the urgency of adopting eco-nomics to prevent irreversible damage to Earth and its inhabitants by the decade’s end. Explore how shifting our economic paradigm can preserve not just human life but all life on Earth.

Ecological Civilization: From Emergency to Emergence
Club of Rome, 2021
Drawing on the work and insights of many colleagues and from ongoing conversations, this paper was written in an effort to connect the dots and engage a serious conversation about the causes of the existential crisis we face, while bringing a message of hope and possibility to help move us forward on the path to an Ecological Civilization. (also see David Korten’s commentary on this report) 

Green is gold: The strategy and actions of China's ecological civilization 
UNEP (UN Environment Programme), May 2016
This report is the result of joint work by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Policy Research Centre for Environment and Economy (PRCEE) in China. This publication explores China’s Ecological Civilization approach, a “Five-in-One” model that integrates not only the economic, social and ecological, but also the political and cultural dimensions of development. The latter two focus on changes to the behaviors of public officials and ordinary citizens, respectively.

Chinese Statements 

As many of the official communications in China regarding their policies and practice of ecological civilization are not available in English, we've provided links to full text where possible, and in other places excerpts and exposition on certain statements. 

President Xi Jinping's report to China's 2022 party congress
October 16, 2022

President Xi Jinping's report to the 9th meeting of the Central Finance & Economics Committee
March 15, 2021
In this speech he made it clear that carbon reduction would be the focus of ecological civilization construction in the “14th Five Year Plan” (spanning the years 2021-2025).

President Xi Jinping Keynote Speech at the Leaders' Summit of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
October 12, 2021

“Work Together to Build a Win-Win, Equitable and Balanced Governance Mechanism on Climate Change”
Speech by Xi Jinping at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Conference on Climate Change
November 30, 2015

President Hu Jintao's report at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
November 8, 2012