Evolutionary logic and development trends of China’s ecological and environmental fiscal polocies

The modern fiscal system has a unique role in promoting the development of green transformation, taking into account the different interests of different subjects, linking different governance links, and balancing the distribution of benefits between regions and generations, and has become a tool that is increasingly relied upon to improve the basic system of ecological civilization, sound ecological and environmental governance system, and innovate the mechanism of green and low-carbon development. Through a retrospective study of 1 516 policy texts issued by the central government departments since the reform and opening up of China, which are closely related to “ecological and environmental finance”, this study explores the logic of the role of fiscal policy in the field of ecological and environmental governance and the effectiveness of the implementation of such policy. The study found that: (1) policy design systematic development. 1979–2022 environmental fiscal policy with the development of environmental protection concepts continue to deepen, the number of eco-fiscal policy has steadily increased, the evolution of the four phases of the development of funds (capital) as a link to the ecological environmental system governance as the focus to promote the development of low-carbon transformation as the core of the development of the development of the policy system is basically formed. (2) Evolution of policy subject synergization. Fiscal policy shows an embedded integration development trend, all types of public sector coordination and integration of specific governance objectives more frequently, the policy gradually evolved to the direction of multi-subject synergy, cross-sectoral cooperation is also more and more frequent. (3) Diversification of policy combinations. Social capital, market mechanism, unified governance and other elements are gradually integrated into the ecological environmental governance system, and the policy portfolio has initially shown a multifaceted linkage trend. However, from the perspective of governance effect, the whole process, multi-disciplinary comprehensive power governance pattern is still not formed, some ecological environment areas are still not caught enough attention, there is a certain fiscal policy governance gap. In view of such research findings, this study puts forward following policy optimization suggestions. First, deepen the reform of the fiscal and taxation system, and enhance the fiscal governance capacity of the ecological environment. Second, strengthen the key areas in an integrated manner, and take into account the shortcomings of the policy. Third, give full play to the linkage effect of the policy, and connect the multifaceted synergistic paths. Fourth, incorporate the attributes of the era’s development, and promote the proliferation of policy innovations.