Correctly understanding and handling the relationship between economic development and environmental protection is very important for stabilizing growth, adjusting structure and strengthening environmental protection. At present, China's economic development has entered a new normal, the economic growth rate has shifted from high speed to medium speed, the development mode has shifted from scale-speed growth to quality-benefit growth, and the driving force for development has shifted from factor-driven to innovation-driven, resulting in greater downward pressure on the economy. At the same time, environmental protection in China has entered a new trend of continuous strengthening. With the central government putting environmental protection in a higher strategic position, the new environmental protection law, "Ten Articles of Atmosphere" and "Ten Articles of Water" and other laws and regulations have been promulgated and implemented, and the intensity of environmental protection has been continuously increased. In this situation, the question of "excessive environmental protection has led to the economic downturn in some places" has appeared from time to time.

Focusing on the relationship between economic development and environmental protection, Hu Angang, president of Tsinghua University National Studies Institute, Li Zuojun, deputy director of the Institute of Resources and Environmental Policy of the State Council Development Research Center, Wang Jinnan, vice president of the Environmental Planning Institute of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and Jun Bi, dean of the School of Environment of Nanjing University, and other participating experts made in-depth interpretations from different angles.

They believe that environmental protection has a positive contribution and optimization effect on economic development, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects: strengthening environmental protection requires a lot of capital investment, which can stimulate domestic demand, increase employment and promote economic growth; Strict environmental laws and regulations will promote the upgrading of production technology of enterprises, force industries with high energy consumption and high pollution to be phased out, and further optimize the economic and industrial structure; Increasing investment in environmental protection can promote the development of energy-saving and environmental protection industries, release green drive dividends and bring new economic growth points; Reducing pollutant discharge can reduce the health and economic losses caused by pollution, and finally realize the coordination and win-win between environment and economy; Strengthening the protection of ecological environment and reducing pollution can make people enjoy good air, drink clean water and eat safe food, which will bring people health and well-being.

Experts also believe that in the process of changing from traditional development mode to emerging development mode, some enterprises will inevitably have pains in the face of increased environmental protection, but they are all temporary. Green development closely links economic development with environmental protection. Only by strengthening green technology innovation, strengthening green driving force, promoting the market-oriented reform of green industry and establishing a fair market competition environment with strict environmental laws and regulations can environmental protection better play its role in optimizing the economy and realize the beautiful vision of "clear water and green mountains are priceless assets".

Experts stressed that no matter from the history of environmental protection in developed countries such as Europe, America and Japan, or from the development experience in the early period of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan and the input-output model of environmental economy, environmental protection will not affect economic development. On the contrary, it can reverse and promote economic restructuring and transformation, solve the dilemma of economic and social development through the greening of production methods and lifestyles, and push China's economy onto a green development track with better structure, higher quality and better environment.