The Evolution and Transformation of Legal Thinking under the Concept of “Ecological Priority”

Abstract

In the context of comprehensively advancing the socialist rule of law in the new era, the concept of “ecological priority,” a core tenet of ecological civilization, is undergoing a transformation from political advocacy to institutionalization and legalization. As a key principle driving high-quality development, ecological pri-ority has been deeply embedded into China’s legal system under the systematic guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. It has gradually become a guiding principle for legislative orientation, a normative standard for adminis-trative law enforcement, and a philosophical foundation for judicial thinking. As both a value orientation and a component of national governance logic, ecologi-cal priority has taken root in multiple dimensions of the governance process. This paper takes the concept of ecological priority as its starting point, exploring its influence on legislative, executive, and judicial thinking, and clarifying the pathways of institutional transformation. However, China’s current ecological legal system still faces challenges such as poor institutional coordination, weak enforcement capacity, and a lack of judicial specialization. Therefore, it is imper-ative to accelerate legislation in the ecological field, consolidate the legal founda-tion, strengthen the cultivation of professional judicial talent, and enhance pub-lic awareness of ecological law. Only by promoting ecological priority through legal thinking can we further institutionalize this concept and construct a mod-ern governance system where humans and nature coexist harmoniously, thus providing a solid legal foundation for building a Beautiful China.