China's Characteristic Pathway to Sustainable Development: Logic, Practice, and Global Implications

Abstract

Industrialization has boosted productivity and transformed wealth accumulation, but has also caused resource depletion, pollution, and ecological imbalances. Against this backdrop, sustainable development has evolved from an environmental concern into a global principle, as marked by milestones from the 1972 Stockholm Conference and the 1992 Rio Summit to the 2015 UN 2030 Agenda, through which the international community has reinforced the consensus that development must respect ecological carrying capacity and intergenerational equity. China, however, has not followed the "grow first, clean up later" model. Instead, given its vast population, pronounced regional disparities, and complex developmental stages, it has forged a distinctive institution-driven pathway anchored in three pillars: state-level coordination that translates green targets into enforceable governance; strategic integration of carbon neutrality goals with industrial upgrading and energy restructuring; and a people-oriented approach that links ecological governance to improved livelihoods. This paper examines this pathway from three dimensions—global evolution, China's institutional practices, and worldwide implications—to demonstrate its practical necessity and international relevance. It argues that despite challenges such as regional imbalances, China's experience offers valuable insights for developing countries navigating trade-offs between growth, resource limits, and environmental stewardship.