On December 28th, the School of Environment and Natural Resources of Renmin University of China, the Institute of Ecological Civilization of Renmin University of China, and the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China jointly released the “China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index 2023” in Beijing. Prof. LIU Qing, Vice Dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China, presided over the press conference. Prof. ZHU Xinkai, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Renmin University of China, attended the conference and delivered a speech. Prof. PANG Jun, Dean of the School of Environment and Natural Resources of Renmin University of China, released the “China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index 2023” on behalf of the research group. JIA Tieying, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Environment and Natural Resources, attended the conference. Experts and scholars from Development Research Center of the State Council, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, China Academy of Fiscal Sciences, Renmin University of China and Beijing Normal University attended the press conference and discussed the results of the index.

Opening Speech

Prof. ZHU Xinkai emphasized in his speech that effective ecological asset management is an important guarantee for the realization of ecological product value. As part of the nationwide implementation of the “Two Mountains” concept, the research team from Renmin University of China has developed and published the “China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index”. This index provides a comprehensive analysis of the current status and characteristics of ecological asset management across 337 prefecture-level cities in China, which is conducive to promoting the realization of the value of ecological products through a high level of ecological asset management, and realizing the unity of ecological priority, green development and improvement of people's livelihood. The release of the China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index enables cities to identify their strengths and weaknesses in ecological asset management, provides decision-making references for improving local eco-asset management and promoting the realization of the value of eco-products, and is also of great significance in promoting China's modernization to achieve harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature

Index Releases

During the index release session, Prof. PANG Jun highlighted the significance of the inaugural release of China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index. Renmin University of China’s research group focused on the level and effectiveness of government-led ecological asset management, compiled an indicator system for urban ecological asset management and conducted a comprehensive assessment. Based on extensive data collection and scientific empowerment, a comprehensive urban ecological asset management index and sub-indices in four major fields (i.e., ecological resource endowment, government ecological asset management, ecological protection compensation and market value realization), and 72 tertiary indicators are formed, comprehensively assessing the current situation and characteristics of ecological asset management in 337 cities above prefecture level.

According to the index, the top 10 cities are Chongqing, Nanping, Beijing, Yichang, Hulunbeier, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Huangshan City, and Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Based on the sub-index scores of the four major areas, the 337 cities can be divided into five types according to their respective strengths in ecological asset management: ecological resource endowment-marketable value realization type (e.g., Chongqing, Ganzi, Liangshan, and Jiuquan, etc.), ecological resource endowment-ecological protection compensation type (e.g., Hulunbeier, Haixi, and Yushu, etc.), government ecological asset management-ecological protection compensation type (e.g., Zhangye , Golo, Huangnan, etc.), government ecological asset management-market-based value realization type (e.g., Nanping, Beijing, Huangshan, Tianjin, etc.), and the balanced type in four major areas (e.g., Hainan State, Aba, Pu'er, etc.).

The index results reveal that ecological asset management in Chinese cities is effective, albeit with distinct regional characteristics. Cities in both the eastern and western regions exhibit unique strengths, with those in the Yangtze River Basin generally outperforming those in the Yellow River Basin. Furthermore, cities in pilot areas for the realization of ecological product value, such as Fujian, Jiangxi, and Qinghai, have notably excelled in this regard. In terms of the level of governmental ecological asset management, the “Implementation Plan for Establishing a Sound Mechanism for Realizing the Value of Ecological Products” and the “Special Leading Group for Realizing the Value of Ecological Products” are the key institutional arrangements for the government to implement ecological asset management, and the cities that have put these two aspects in place scored higher on the indicator of governmental ecological asset management. At the same time, Figure 1 shows that there are also the following problems in China’s urban ecological asset management: Regional imbalances are evident in both ecological resource endowment and the government’s capacity to manage ecological assets. Some western cities, blessed with abundant ecological resources, exhibit a weaker governmental capacity for ecological asset management, whereas certain eastern cities, endowed with strong ecological asset management capabilities, face relative scarcity in ecological resource endowment. Additionally, regional disparities are observed in the levels of ecological protection compensation and the capacity to realize marketized value. Ecological protection compensation tends to score higher in western cities, while the ability to realize marketized value shows better performance in eastern and central cities.

Spatial Distribution Characteristics of the Four Major Field Indices

At the conclusion of the index release session, Prof. PANG Jun emphasized the need for cities to foster the implementation of policies in ecological asset management, though drafting the “Implementation Plan for Establishing a Sound Mechanism for Realizing the Value of Ecological Products”, establishing a special leading group for realizing the value of ecological products, and effectively implementing such a plan to enhance governmental capacity in ecological asset management, and to alleviate the lack of governmental ecological asset management capacity in some ecological resource-rich cities.. Additionally, Prof. PANG Jun advocated for the exploration of a horizontal ecological compensation mechanism to foster mutually beneficial collaborations through well-designed mechanisms and to develop diversified funding channels. Moreover, Prof. Pang Jun underscored the importance of leveraging existing policy frameworks and exploring diverse paths for realizing the value of ecological products based on local resource endowments.

Expert Seminar

In the expert seminar session, the participating experts and scholars launched an in-depth discussion on the results of the press conference.

ZHOU Hongchun, the researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, mentioned that on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the reform and opening-up, the release of the China Urban Ecological Asset Management Index is of great significance for promoting the construction of a beautiful China and fostering green urban development. This index system underscores the leading role of government across the entire spectrum of ecological resources, assets, and products. The development and ranking of this index bear practical significance in raising the awareness of local governments and promoting proactive actions in ecological asset management, which is a pioneering endeavor in China. The ultimate goal of ecological asset management is to benefit the people through ecology. Exploring the inclusion of more stakeholders into the assessment system and fostering the internationalization of ecological asset management index evaluations represent pivotal directions for future research. It is anticipated that this index system will exert a lasting and profound impact, offering a distinct Chinese approach to reconciling the dichotomy between development and conservation.

GE Zhazhong, the researcher at the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, believed that the compilation and release of China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index is a pioneering endeavor. It marks the inaugural attempt in China to assess the level of ecological asset management at the city level, representing a significant milestone in implementing and elucidating Xi Jinping's ideology on ecological civilization by Renmin University of China. The city level index framework centered on four critical areas: ecological resource endowment, governmental ecological asset management, ecological protection compensation, and market-based value realization, which is a remarkable achievement. Going forward, it is expected that the Urban Ecological Asset Management Index will be released continuously,, dynamically reflecting changes in both stock and increment, and incorporating novel concepts and practices in the fields of ecological civilization and a beautiful Chinaand expanding the research outcomes to establish a theoretical framework and systematic methodology, so as to provide richer references for thereby furnishing comprehensive references for enhancing the level of urban ecological asset management and articulating China’s narrative within the international discourse system.

Prof. MAO Xianqiang from the School of Environment at Beijing Normal University discussed the significance of ecological asset management, the role of the index system, and future research directions. Ecological asset management is integral to achieving the Chinese-style modernization characterized by “harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature”. The index system, aligned with contemporary trends, is founded on the comprehensive transformation chain of “ecological resources-ecological assets-ecological products”, helping cities across China identifying the strengths and weaknesses of ecological asset management. The assessment focus on the theme of ecological asset management, and the three-level index system is grounded in a robust theoretical framework and complete methodology, covering crucial aspects of endowment, management, and realization of the value of ecological products, which is comprehensive, scientific, current, and relevant. The research findings highlight the disparity between ecological resource endowment and the level of governmental ecological asset management, offering insights for further advancing high-level ecological asset management. It is anticipated that the future index system will further reflect the importance of governmental ecological asset management and enhance the role and effectiveness of realizing the value of ecological products.

According to XU Wen, researcher of China Academy of Fiscal Sciences, China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index is of high theoretical and practical value, which is not only systematic, pioneering, indicative and leading, but also promotional, and has a significant role to play in promoting the management of governments at all levels, especially the management level of urban ecological assets. The Index keenly grasps the core process of valorizing ecological resources, constructing an analytical framework of ecological resources, ecological assets, and ecological products. It comprises four major domains: ecological resource endowment, government ecological asset management, ecological protection compensation, and market-based value realization. The research process is rigorous, and the assessment results are insightful. It is anticipated that the content of the index and the ranking methodology can be further optimized in the future, providing precise guidance for localities to improve the relevant work.

Prof. WEN Yuyuan from the School of Applied Economics at Renmin University of China highly commended the China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index, highlighting that the index is scientific, systematic, cutting-edge, leading, operable and diagnostic,reflecting the essence of the new era of ecological civilization and the significant implications of the “Two Mountains” concept in advancing high-quality development and comprehensive environmental protection. The compilation of this index represents a groundbreaking achievement, demonstrating Renmin University of China’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the times and serving national strategies. Looking ahead, efforts should be made to promote the establishment of an ecological asset management system, enhance top-level design, and emphasize the integration of ecological asset management with rural revitalization, carbon peak, and carbon neutrality. Furthermore, there should be a concerted effort to promote the concept of ecological asset management to the international arena.

Prof. CHEN Minpeng from the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Renmin University of China fully affirmed the importance of China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index and proposed three suggestions for its improvement. Firstly, Prof. CHEN hopes that the School of Environment and Natural Resources of Renmin University of China will continue to release China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index, focusing on g the dynamic validity of the indicators and methods, and providing data support for better promoting the national ecological asset management level. Secondly, regarding international leadership, it is desired that the index not only embodies Chinese characteristics but also reflects an international perspective, evolving into an index system with global influence. Finally, there is a hope for the introduction of more international cutting-edge theories to enrich the theoretical foundation of ecological asset management and enhance its international recognition.

“China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index 2023”

“China’s Urban Ecological Asset Management Index 2023” was developed under the leadership of Prof. PANG Jun, Dean of the School of Environment and Natural Resources of Renmin University of China, and Associate Prof. MA Ben. Several faculty members, and students from the School were involved in the compilation and assessment of g the index system. The index system comprises a composite index and four sub-indices, enabling precise diagnosis of the overall level and sub-field level of ecological asset management across 337 cities, and providing a decision-making reference for Chinese cities to enhance their ecological asset management levels.