A Study On Environmental Problems In Xinjiang's Industrialization Process

For the time being, comprehensively pushing forward the industrialization drive and promoting the sped-up economic growth are getting under way in such an underdeveloped area as Xinjiang. However, the fundamental characteristics of oasis ecological environment in Xinjiang determine a rather limited bearing capacity of environment for economic development. Due to the fact that, a long-time implementation of traditional industrialization patterns & resources-oriented development strategy has brought about the over-exploitation of natural resources and deterioration of environmental pollution, Xinjiang will be confronted by an increasingly severe environmental situation. In view of this, it is an urgent strategic task to make a tentative study with the process of industrialization combined with environmental problems. By embarking on defining some basic concepts and categories related to industrialization and environmental problems, and analyzing some theories on environmental economics, development economics, institutional economics and sustainable development economics respectively, this paper is aimed at grasping the intrinsic link between environment and the process of industrialization, making a demonstrative analysis on the relation between environment and economic development in the process of industrialization through the combined application of literature research, econometric analysis, demonstrative study and normative study, and conducting a countermeasure study based on a good command of involved features & regularities. This paper can be summarized as three parts as follows: The first part is structured as a theoretical part, consisting of Chapter1, Chapter2 and Chapter 3. In this part, a general theoretical analysis is made on the measure of industrialization stages, environmental problems and the relation between industrialization and environment. Chapter 1 involves a theory on the measure of industrialization stages. On the basis of reviews of theories abroad on the classification of industrialization stages and domestic studies on the measure of the process of industrialization in China, an evaluation index system of measuring the process of industrialization including its various marked values is chosen for the research of this paper. Chapter2 is to make a theoretical analysis of environmental problems. After such basic categories as environment, environment & resources, environmental problems, environment & economy are defined, a tentative analysis is made on system sources of environmental problems. Chapter3 makes a general systematic theoretical analysis of the relation between industrialization and environment for the purpose of establishing an underlying theoretical base. In this chapter, above all, an initial analysis is made on EKC (the Environmental Kuznets Curve) reflecting how environment changes with the process of industrialization. And then, some chief decisive factors affecting environment in industrialization are discussed as well. Following that, a normative analysis is made on main environmental problems in the process of industrialization such as industrialization & resources utilization, industrialization & environmental pollution, and industrialization & ecological environment in rural areas, etc.. The second part serves as a demonstrative part, made up of Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. This part aims to make a demonstrative analysis of the process of industrialization and environmental problems arising from it, expected to lay a solid foundation for later countermeasure study. In Chapter 4, an attempt is made to demonstratively analyze the process of industrialization in Xinjiang. Amidst it, a general description is given of the historical evolvement of the process of industrialization in Xinjiang and its corresponding total characteristics. By carrying out this normative analysis and referring to the conclusion drawn from Chapter 1, this chapter strives to measure the stage and level industrialization in Xinjiang stands in terms of economic aggregate and economic structure index. It is asserted that, by and large, industrialization in Xinjiang is apparently characterized by the initial stage, and simultaneously, shows signs of advancing from the initial stage to the middle stage. Chapter 5 touches upon the demonstrative analysis on the relation between environment and economic development in the process of industrialization. In this chapter, initially, an analysis is conducted on the fundamental features of ecological environment and some ecological environmental problems in Xinjiang. Next, a normative analysis is made on environmental problems in the process of industrialization in Xinjiang such as industrialization & resources utilization, industrialization & environmental pollution, and industrialization & ecological environment in rural areas, etc.. After that, a demonstrative analysis is made on the relation between environment & economic development in Xinjiang, and a judgement is also made on the phase environment in Xinjiang stands in accordance with EKC. The third part is termed as the countermeasure part, including Chapter 6, Chapter 7, and Chapter 8. In this part, a countermeasure study is implemented in such three aspects as strategic choice, fundamental move, and policy guarantee. Chapter 6 focuses on the strategic choice, taking the road ofnew-type industrialization. Starting with the analysis on the connotation of new-type industrialization, this chapter tries to point out that, taking the road of new-type industrialization is an indispensable choice, a strategic choice for Xinjiang, which is decided not only by the need to accelerate industrialization drive and to achieve great-leap-forward development in Xinjiang, but also by the unique nature of the process of industrialization, and environmental problems arising from it in Xinjiang. Chapter 7 concentrates on the fundamental move, developing circular economy. First, an exploration is made of the rationale for this fundamental move. Second, a probe is made into the status quo of circular economic development and emerging problems in Xinjiang. Third, the prime target and progressive steps are formulated for furthering circular economic development in Xinjiang. Fourth, in accordance with the six national measures taken to boost circular economy, some countermeasures are advanced to promote circular economic development in Xinjiang. Chapter 8 places emphasis on the policy guarantee, the integration of environmental policy with economic policy in operation. In the first place, the inevitable integration of environmental policy with economic policy in practice is expounded thoroughly. Next, in two aspects, an exploration is made of the close link between regional economic policy and environment, and the disintegrated implementation of environmental policy and economic policy in practice. Finally, a policy proposition is put forward, i.e., the integration of environmental policy with economic policy in operation, in order to tackle a series of problems in the process of industrialization in Xinjiang.