Evolution paths of green economy modes and their trend of hypercycle economy

Abstract

So far there is a lack of specialized research on the entire path and the law of the evolution of green economy modes, especially studies on its future trend. Some studies have been done only on its sub-process, in which there are some shortcomings such as overlapping and incomplete classification of economy modes, as well as the lack of mechanism models to describe the modes. This paper attempts to solve those problems. Firstly, various green economy modes are extracted and classified, and then their evolution paths are identified and reviewed, according to sustainable development theory, hypercycle theory, etc., and to practical investigation. Secondly, theoretical models for each green economy mode and their multilevel dynamic evolution models in a practical field (forestry as an example) are established by the modeling method of system structure. Finally, the evolution law of green economy mode is analyzed systematically by means of the above-mentioned models. According to the research, some conclusions are drawn as follows: First, green economy modes have evolved through three stages as a whole. The first is the start-up stage, in which the mode is the ‘from cradle to grave’ end-treatment green economy (GE-I). The second is the growth stage, in which the mode is the ‘from cradle to cradle’ resources-chain closed-loop green economy (GE-Ⅱ). The third is the mature stage, in which the mode will be the ‘from breeding to breeding ‘three-chain hypercycle economy (GE-Ⅲ). Second, GE-Ⅱ has evolved through a specific process. In depth, the basic framework of GE-Ⅱ is based on the circular economy theory; and then it is combined gradually with some other relevant theories and technologies that are cleaner production, low-carbon economy and sharing economy and so on. In breadth, GE-Ⅱ is expanded layer by layer from unified enterprise GE-Ⅱ to diversified enterprise ( or cluster) GE-Ⅱ, and to societal GE-Ⅱ. The operational principle of GE-Ⅱ can be described by 3R theoretical model that includes 3 subsystems of reduction, recycle and reuse (3R), which are connected into an organic whole by resources chain. Third, GE-Ⅲ is evolving through a specific process of three-chain (3C) stage by stage expansion, from resources-chain primary hypercycle to eco-chain secondary hypercycle, and to value-chain tertiary hypercycle. The operational principle of GE-Ⅲ can be described by 5R-3C theoretical model that includes 5 subsystems of reduction, recycle, reuse, recultivation and reallocation (5R) , which are connected into an environment-economy self-organizing system by resources chain, ecochain and value chain. In the system, resources chain is the foundation, eco-chain is the support, and value chain is the impetus. The 3C hypercycle promotes and catalyze each other to realize mutualism between ecosystem and industrial system. Fourth, the related field of GE-Ⅲ includes the principal part of renewable-resource-based industry, and the expanded part of other relevant industries and even the whole society. Now in practice, GE-Ⅲ has initially formed. And in the future, it is the development tendency of green economy toward the establishment of the ecological civilization.