[Objective] Under the background of achieving global carbon neutrality, clean energy technologies are booming and the demand for critical metals and the industrial carbon emissions will rise sharply. [Methods] To further clarify the driving mechanism, methodological framework, and carbon emission reduction pathways of the critical metal industry chain under the clean energy transition, this study systematically reviewed and integrated the relevant research from the perspectives of systematic nexus and the whole industry chain. [Results] We found that clean energy transition induces the terminal demand for critical metals from the demand side and reduces the carbon emission intensity from the supply side, which jointly drive the industrial carbon emissions; it is required to integrate a variety of methods and models to calculate and predict the carbon emissions of the critical metal industry chain, and we should select suitable research methods according to the research objects; existing research mainly focuses on carbon emission reduction pathways in the smelting and recycling stages, and has not systematically identified the pathways from the viewpoint of the whole industry chain yet. [Conclusion] In the future, based on the metal-energy-carbon nexus theory and integrated methods, it is necessary to further verify the internal mechanism and study the trends of carbon emissions in the critical metal industry chain. Furthermore, it is essential to systematically design and identify the carbon reduction pathways from the whole industry chain with the “China factor” incorporated, providing a realistic basis and decision-making reference for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

[Objective] In the context of compulsory classification, different source separation and collection methods will change the flow direction of municipal solid waste and the subsequent collection and disposal process, and then affect the life cycle carbon emissions and economic performance of the recycling system. According to the different scenarios of Beijing community garbage source classification and comprehensive treatment system, this study carried out carbon reduction efficiency analysis and optimization, in order to provide a scientific basis for the establishment of garbage classification and collection model according to local conditions. [Methods] The material flow analysis method (MFA) was used to analyze the material flow direction and flow in the whole process of recycling and treatment, and evaluated the carbon footprint and economic cost respectively with life cycle carbon emission accounting (LCCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC) methods. On this basis, a carbon reduction efficiency index was put forward and optimized. [Results] The life cycle carbon emissions of the baseline scenario (S1) and the optimization scenario (S2-S5) are -148.14 kgCO₂e, -236.44 kgCO₂e, -251.25 kgCO₂e, -297.06 kgCO₂e, -343.51 kgCO₂e, respectively. Compared with S1, the four optimization scenarios show positive carbon reduction efficiency, and the carbon reduction efficiency values are S5 (2.20)>S4 (1.66)>S3(1.38)>S2 (1.31). Scenario 5 corresponding to the “garbage sorting station+recyclable intelligent recycling bin+garbage classification instructor” optimization model has the highest carbon reduction efficiency. Under the premise that the comprehensive treatment capacity of domestic waste and the treatment capacity of each component are sufficient, with the increase of the proportion of accurate classification, the carbon reduction efficiency is gradually improved. [Conclusion] The establishment and improvement of the source separation and collection system increases the front-end infrastructure operation cost, labor cost, and environmental impact, but effectively improves the back- end classification and treatment efficiency and the output rate of renewable resources, resulting in the improvement of life cycle carbon emission reduction benefits. With the increasing participation rate and accuracy of domestic waste classification in the future, the cost in the collection stage will be greatly reduced, and the carbon reduction efficiency can be further improved.

[Objective] The purpose of this research is to measure the micro-enterprise agglomeration of producer services, analyze its impact direction and specific degree on carbon emission efficiency, and provide scientific basis for stimulating the positive externality of the environment of producer services agglomeration. [Methods] First, on the basis of agglomeration theory and Schumpeter’s innovation theory, this paper expounds the mechanism of the impact of producer service industries agglomeration on carbon emission efficiency from the aspects of scale effect and technology effect. Secondly, from the perspective of enterprises entry, this research build a composite weighted agglomeration index of producer services that reflects both the “stock” agglomeration of producer services at the macro level and the dynamic “increment” of the entry of micro-enterprises. Finally, the carbon emission efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is calculated based on the super-efficiency SBM model, and the dynamic spatial Dubin model and panel threshold model are established to empirically test the relationship between the agglomeration of producer services and carbon emission efficiency. [Results] The findings indicate that: (1) The Yangtze River Economic Belt’s carbon emission efficiency has a clear positive spatial spillover effect and a path-dependent feature in time dimension. The carbon emission efficiency of a previous period has a great impact on the carbon emission efficiency of the current period, presenting a “snowball effect”. (2) There is a positive U-shaped relationship between the agglomeration of producer services and carbon emission efficiency. Both the direct effect and the spillover effect of producer services agglomeration on carbon emission efficiency will change from negative to positive. Compared with short-term effects, long-term effects are more significant. (3) The three constraining mechanisms of industrial structure, technological innovation, and marketization all show significant single threshold characteristics. The upgrading of industrial structure and technological innovation significantly enhances the role of producer services agglomeration in promoting carbon emission efficiency, while the improvement of marketization level is conducive to mitigating the adverse impact of producer services agglomeration on carbon emission efficiency. [Conclusion] Finally, based on the analysis results of the positive U-shaped curve, this study put forward recommendations for promoting the low-carbon development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt under the influence and constraint mechanisms.

[Objective] Urban-rural integration, as an important means to improve the efficiency of agricultural production factor allocation, is a key factor that influences agricultural carbon emission efficiency. [Methods] This study explored the effect of urban-rural integration development on agricultural carbon emission efficiency and its mechanism of action using a combination of fixed effects model, spatial autoregressive model, and threshold effect model, based on measuring the level of urban-rural integration development and agricultural carbon emission efficiency using provincial panel data from 2005 to 2020 in China. [Results] The study found that: (1) On the whole, urban-rural integration development had a significant negative effect on agricultural carbon emission efficiency. The mechanism test showed that urban-rural integration development helped to improve the efficiency of low-carbon technologies in agriculture, but also had a significant negative impact on frontier technological progress, which in turn was not conducive to improving the efficiency of agricultural carbon emissions. The above findings still hold true under the spatial spillover perspective. (2) From the perspective of different dimensions of urban-rural integration development, “human resource integration” can effectively improve agricultural carbon emission efficiency by improving technical efficiency. Although both “land integration” and “capital integration” had a positive impact on technical efficiency, they were negatively constrained by technological progress, which ultimately hindered the overall improvement of agricultural carbon emission efficiency. (3) The threshold econometric analysis found that the level of regional economic development was a significant threshold variable that constrained the relationship between urban-rural integration development and agricultural carbon emission efficiency. When the level of regional economic development moved past the threshold, urban-rural integration development was able to produce a significant enhancement effect on agricultural carbon emission efficiency. [Conclusion] Therefore, in the process of promoting integrated urban-rural development, local governments should take into account the level of regional economic development and focus on building a system and mechanism for integrating “people” as the core and “land” and “capital” as a whole. This will create the conditions for the coordinated development of urban and rural areas as an opportunity to achieve high-quality development of low-carbon agriculture.

[Objective] With the establishment of the food security strategy and the dual carbon goals, examining the carbon emission patterns of the livestock industry—the main contributor to agricultural carbon emissions—is of great value for the supply of livestock products in the future and the establishment of a systematic carbon emission reduction mechanism for agriculture and other industries. [Methods] In this study, we estimated the carbon emissions of the livestock industry in 31 provinces of China from 2000 to 2020 using the life cycle approach. The carbon emissions of China’s livestock industry was divided into three stages—a highly fluctuating rising stage, a sharp falling stage, and a slowly rising and then falling stage. [Results] It was found that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the total carbon emission of China’s livestock industry fluctuated between 638.6458 million ton to 795.2947 million ton with an average annual growth rate of 0.95%, and 3 stages characterize it. That is high fluctuation rise, precipitous fall, and slow rebound and fall back. (2) The spatial pattern of carbon emissions from China’s livestock industry has changed significantly, gradually forming a significant carbon emission belt of the livestock industry extending from the northeast to the southwest. (3) The production efficiency was high in southern China and low in the north. Most regions with high economic efficiency were in the southeastern coastal areas or grain-producing regions in central and western China. The economic and production efficiencies of animal husbandry in Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang were low. (4) The carbon emissions of the livestock industry across China were at a relatively equitable level. The contribution in the overall Gini coefficient is as follows: the contribution of inter-regional differences > the contribution of intra-regional differences > the contribution of hypervariable density. [Conclusion] Both in terms of economic efficiency and production efficiency, carbon emissions from China’s livestock industry are generally in a fair state, but the emission efficiency in areas such as Qinghai and Tibet is still at a low level. Differentiated measures should be taken to improve the efficiency according to the development characteristics of specific regions.

[Objective] In-depth analysis of the carbon emission effect of rural land transfer is absent in existing studies. Therefore, this study systematically analyzed the influence of rural land transfer on agricultural carbon emissions and its mechanism. [Methods] This article first discussed rural land transfer and its potential influence on carbon emissions. Then by using the 2005-2020 provincial panel data of China’s mainland and the two-way fixed effects regression model, instrumental variable model, mediation effect model, and spatial econometric model, it empirically analyzed the effect of rural land transfer on agricultural carbon emissions, its intermediary pathways, and spatial characteristics on the basis of strict tests. [Results] The results show that: (1) Rural land transfer overall promotes the increase of agricultural carbon emissions; (2) The scale of agricultural operation has some mediation effect in the process of rural land transfer promoting the increase of agricultural carbon emissions. That is, rural land transfer can have a positive impact on agricultural carbon emissions by improving the scale of agricultural operation; (3) When considering the spatial effect, rural land transfer has a significant positive impact on agricultural carbon emissions in the home region and a significant negative impact on agricultural carbon emissions in neighboring regions. The scale of agricultural operation has a partial mediation effect in the process of rural land transfer influencing agricultural carbon emissions in the home region. [Conclusion] Therefore, we should pay attention to the carbon emission reduction work in the process of rural land transfer and promote the inter-provincial agricultural cooperation in emission reduction.

[Objective] To explore the attention evolution of China’s energy-saving policies since the reform and opening-up, reveal the internal laws and characteristics of energy-saving policies, provide policy suggestions for the formulation and optimization of energy-saving policies in the future, and then improve the overall level of the government’s energy-saving and emission reduction work. [Methods] Taking the energy-saving policy texts issued by the central government of China from 1978 to 2021 as the research object, this study constructed an analytical framework from the three dimensions of attention intensity, attention span, and cooperation degree of government departments to described the stage characteristics of China’s energy-saving policies attention evolution by the text measurement. Then conducted a policy modeling research consistency (PMC) index to evaluate the four sample policy texts and analyze the characteristics of attention evolution of those sample policies in detail. [Results] The attention intensity of China’s energy-saving policies presents an inverted U-shaped development trend, and the attention intensity in the later stage is not prominent enough. The attention span has changed from gradually expanding to falling,and the concerned content can not combine the current energy-saving goals enough. The cooperation degree of government departments has changed from a relatively scattered state of cooperation to a state of centralized cooperation. However, the cooperation subjects are only concentrated in a few departments.The PMC indexes of the four sample energy-saving policies are 6.21, 6.36, 7.52 and 7.83, of which the first two are within a acceptable level and the last two are within a good level. The attention intensity of the sample energy-saving policies is generally low, and the attention span is constantly improving. [Conclusion] It is suggested to further enhance the attention intensity of China’s energy-saving policies, emphasize the compatibility of policy measures with the objectives of China’s energy-saving policies, deepen the coordination between departments in issuing policies, and strengthen the strategic planning of China’s energy-saving policies.

[Objective] In order to improve municipal waste classification policies and thus enhance the policy implementation effect, [Methods] this study used the “path-effectiveness” analysis framework to analyze the policies of the pilot cities in Northwest China. The text mining method was used to clarify the policy path of waste classification, and then the policy modeling consistency (PMC) index evaluation model was built to comprehensively evaluate the policy effectiveness. [Results] The results show that: (1) The policy elements for promoting waste classification include orientation (policy goals), resources (infrastructure, technical support, personnel support, and funding system), and guarantee (publicity and education, supervision and assessment, punishment methods, and incentive mechanisms), which ultimately form a policy path guided by policy goals, supplying supporting resources, and providing guarantees for resource use. (2) The policy ratings of the six pilot cities are good (Xining), medium (Lanzhou, Xi’an, Yinchuan, Xianyang), and poor (Urumqi), with an overall rating of medium. All variables, except infrastructure, need to be improved, and the effectiveness of incentive mechanisms has the greatest room for improvement. (3) The policies of all cities have missing content or implementation details in some variables, and the aspect and extent of missing content vary from one policy to another, so the reference routes for policy improvement are also different. [Conclusion] Finally, policy optimization recommendations were made in terms of supplementing policy content details and developing differentiated improvement routes.

[Objective] The transformation of local experiences into national policies is an important topic in China’s public policy research. The existing research mainly focuses on the transformation and diffusion of economic and social policies, and lacks the investigation of the whole process of multi-attribute policy innovation and diffusion. [Methods] From the perspective of policy innovation and diffusion, this study focused on the ecological product value realization policy with dual economic and social policy attributes, built an analytical framework for such policy innovation and diffusion, and conducted an in-depth investigation on the complete process of policy innovation and diffusion of ecological product value realization in Lishui City of Zhejiang Province, as China’s first pilot city of ecological product value realization. [Results] The results show that: (1) The existence of dual economic and social attributes created a compliance space for the innovation and diffusion of policies of ecological product value realization, thus presenting a special innovation and diffusion mechanism under the two-way promotion of the central and local governments. (2) The local innovation of ecological product value realization was shaped by the internal driving factors of the needs for economic and social development, policy entrepreneurs, as well as natural resources endowment, and the external influence of vertical environment and horizontal experience in the policy network. (3) The transformation of ecological product value realization policy showed a spiral rising mechanism. The formal bureaucratic system and the semi-structured system shortcut were the two core structures embedded in this mechanism. [Conclusion] Based on this, the role of policy entrepreneurs in the innovation and diffusion of local experience in realizing the value of ecological products in the future must be valued. Local governments should seize and create opportunities for communication horizontally and vertically in the policy network according to local conditions, and strive for seeking the support of formal bureaucracy, in order to achieve the goal of reducing reform costs and promoting the construction of ecological civilization.

[Objective] The development, promotion, and application of green pest control technology is an important technical means to improve the ecological environment, increase the efficiency of cotton growers, facilitate the improvement of the quality and yield of cotton, and achieve sustainable development of the cotton industry. [Methods] Based on the survey data from 684 cotton farmers in Xinjiang, an endogenous switching regression model and a quantile regression model were used to explore the income improvement effect of green control technology adoption on cotton farmers in Xinjiang and its heterogeneity across regions and income levels. [Results] The results show that: (1) The adoption rate of green control technology in Xinjiang is generally low, nearly 40% of cotton farmers still have not adopted it, and the adoption rate in southern Xinjiang is almost 5% higher than that in northern Xinjiang. (2) Perception of access, perception of other people’s willingness, perception of cost, perception of service satisfaction, and neighborhood effect all significantly and positively affect cotton farmers’ green control technology adoption, and cotton planting scale significantly and negatively affects cotton farmers’ green control technology adoption. (3) Older age, more engagement in part-time employment, and higher education level of cotton farmers in the adoption group can significantly increase their household income, and the scale of cotton cultivation, technology perception, and neighborhood effect significantly and negatively affect the household income of cotton farmers. (4) The treatment effect indicates that the household income of cotton farmers who did not adopt the green control technology would be significantly higher by 9.1% if they had adopted the technology; if cotton farmers who had adopted the green control technology gave up adopting the technology, their household income would be significantly lowered by 25.4%. The welfare effect of green control technology shows group differences the effect of income increase brought by the adoption of green control technology by cotton farmers in southern Xinjiang is significantly higher than that in northern Xinjiang, by 15.49%; the effect of income increase brought by the adoption of green control technology on the household income of cotton farmers with high income level is stronger, and the effect of income increase on the household income of cotton farmers with middle income level is the weakest. [Conclusion] According to the conclusion of the study, this article recommends that the government should formulate and apply differentiated green control technology matching programs for different types of cotton farmers, promote the sustainable use of green control technology, and accelerate the construction of green control technology promotion mechanism.

[Objective] The establishment of National Key Ecological Functional Areas (NKEFAs) is one of the ecological policies with wide coverage and important impact on the ecological environment in China in recent years. Exploring the impact of NKEFAs on local residents’ income is crucial for the sustainability of the policy and the balance between protection and development. [Methods] In this study, the response of local rural residents’ income to NKEFAs establishment from 2007 to 2018 was investigated at the county scale based on the propensity score matchingdifference-in-differences (PSM-DID) model, taking the establishment of the NKEFAs as a quasi-natural experiment. [Results] The results show that, in general, the establishment of the NKEFAs had significantly increased the income of local rural residents. Compared with counties not designated as the NKEFA, the per capita income of rural residents in counties designated as the NKEFA increased by 3.6%. However, significant spatial heterogeneities existed. The NKEFAs in western China had a significant positive impact on the income of rural residents, with their income increasing by 4.9%, while the NKEFAs in the eastern and central regions had no significant impact on the income of rural residents. This study further examined the differences in the impact among four different types of ecological functional zones: the establishment of soil and water conservation type and biodiversity protection type of NKEFAs had significantly increased the income of rural residents, with enhancements of 2.8% and 10.6%, respectively. But the establishment of water conservation type and windbreak and sand fixation type of NKEFAs reduced the income of local rural residents. [Conclusion] Therefore, the establishment of the NKEFAs helped achieve poverty reduction in general. The country needs to further implement policies according to local conditions and strive to achieve a “win-win” situation between ecological protection and social and economic development in the future.

[Objective] Shaanxi Province is an important grain, oil, and fruit production base in China, but most part of the province is located in the semi-arid zone. Limited water resources are the biggest constraint to the sustainable development of local economy and society. Quantitative evaluation of water consumption and water-saving potentials in crop production is crucial for water resource-adapted agricultural development and green and high-efficiency water-saving. [Methods] Based on the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the annual blue water footprint (irrigation water consumption) and green water footprint (effective precipitation consumption) of growing 10 major crops under irrigated and rainfed conditions in Shaanxi Province from 1989 to 2019, the engineering water-saving potential and real water-saving potential of crop production in typical years were deduced. [Results] The results show that: (1) The consumptive water footprint per yield of all crops in Shaanxi Province showed an overall downward trend in the 30-year study period, and the water footprint of individual crops had visible differences between cities. The provincial average unit consumptive water footprint of apple production decreased by 91.3%; the difference of consumptive water footprint of wheat production between cities reached 3.41 m³/kg. At the same time, the grey water footprint of apple and rapeseed production showed an increasing trend. (2) The total consumptive water footprint of crop production was 16.055 billion m³/a in 2019, slightly decreased by 1.8% from 1989. Corn, wheat, and apple production contributed more than 80% of the total consumptive water footprint of provincial crop production. (3) The water-saving potential, blue water saving potential, and green water saving potential of crop production in Shaanxi Province were 62%, 68%, and 49%, respectively. [Conclusion] There is a great potential of agricultural water-saving in Shaanxi Province. There are two preliminary suggestions: (1) Combining technology and management measures to accelerate agricultural water-saving and efficiency; (2) Accelerate scientific and accurate fertilization to reduce environmental pressure.

[Objective] Environmental health risk has become the focus of current global research due to the fact that environmental pollution causes harm to human health. The research on health risk of heavy metals in cultivated soil at the provincial level based on interdisciplinary perspectives is of great significance for expanding the understanding of environmental health risk, formulating the control strategies of health risk, and protecting public health. [Methods] Based on the theories of human-environment relationship, the essential connotation of environmental health risk, and spatial statistical analysis methods in geography, we constructed an analytical framework for health risk of heavy metals in the soil of cultivated land. The characteristic factors, the spatial agglomeration characteristics, and the influencing mechanism of health risk were analyzed. Furthermore, the key points for health risk control were identified. [Results] The results show that: (1) The health risk levels of heavy metals Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in the cultivated soil of Jiangsu Province are within acceptable range. But Cr, Pb, and As were the main risk characteristic factors and need to be controlled. (2) Heavy metals in cultivated soil in some counties of Northern Jiangsu Province had a greater impact on the relative health risk level than the rest parts of the province. The degree of influence of different characteristic risk factors for the region was As > Cr > Pb, and the spatial distribution generally presented a pattern of northeast > southwest. (3) As, Cr, Pb, and the comprehensive health risks showed a spatial agglomeration trend, and the spatial structure of agglomeration exhibited a high-high and low-low pattern. (4) The q values of the four detection factors areal average fertilizer application, residents’ education level, road density, and areal average GDP were higher than 0.3, and any two detection factors showed either a nonlinear enhancement or a dual-factor enhancement effect. [Conclusion] The health risk intensity of heavy metals in cultivated soil puts forward a fresh thought on environment and health researchs, and the research results could provide the practical basis for formulating control strategies on heavy metals in cultivated soil in Jiangsu Province.

[Objective] Exploring the changes and ecological effects of the ecological land in the desert oasis area can provide a decision-making reference for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. [Methods] Taking Yinchuan City, a desert oasis in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, as an example, this study put forward the coefficient revision method of ecological service value (ESV) equivalent factors, established the relationship of ESV equivalent factor coefficients between Yinchuan City and China nationwide, and analyzed the response characteristics of ESV to the spatial and temporal changes of production-living-ecological land. [Results] The results show that: (1) The proportion of ecological land was the highest among the production-living-ecological land in Yinchuan City, but this proportion decreased during the study period, from 69.49% in 1990 to 57.68% in 2020. During the same period, the production land increased steadily, from 28.54% to 32.52%, and the living land expanded rapidly, from 2.37% to 9.81%. The dynamic degree of living land changed dramatically, but the dynamic degree trends of production land and ecological land gradually became smooth. (2) During the study period, the total amount of ESV increased by 384.2365 million yuan, and the positive effect of ecological land quality improvement on ESV was greater than the negative effect of the expansion of production land and living land on ESV. The contribution of regulating services to ESV was the largest and continued to increase, with the proportion increasing from 82.29% in 1990 to 83.76% in 2020, but the proportion of other services had decreased. The negative supply services are mainly related to the increase of water-consuming crop planting. (3) Urban expansion, energy base construction, and migration into the city are important reasons for the decline in ESV, resulting in lower ESV in the urban area, the Ningdong energy base, and key immigration areas; ecological construction is the main reason for the increase in ESV, with significant increases in areas such as the Bailitan Nature Reserve, the core area of the Yellow River Ecological Belt, and the grape production corridor at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains. [Conclusion] In future development, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of living land and production land use to reduce the pressure of their expansion on ecological land, and to continuously improve the quality of ecological land to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the desert oasis ecosystem.

[Objective] Understandings of the ecological evolution in the Hunshandake Sandy Land are divergent duo to the differences in study area, data used, and period of study. How the vegetation in the hinterland and marginal ecotones of the Hunshandake Sandy Land interacts with regional climate and responds to human activities remain to be addressed. [Methods] In this study, the Gobi desert area was set as the background area (CK), and the Hunshandake Sandy Land and its surrounding areas were divided into a core area (CA) and four ecotones. Based on the long-term GIMMS NDVI3g v1 (1982-2015) dataset, combined with climate data (annual temperature and precipitation) from 1982 to 2015, nighttime light dataset (1984-2015), and population and herbivore data of each banner/county (1986-2015), the correlations between NDVI and climate change and human activities in the CK, CA and the ecotones were analyzed. [Results] The results show that: (1) Vegetation phenology was regionally heterogeneous. The length of growing season (LOS) was between 158 and 196 days, and the phenological difference within the region reached 38 days. (2) The change rate of NDVI was spatially different. Total NDVI increased at a rate of 0.00021/10a, while the rate of change in each region varied, with a maximum difference of 17 folds. (3) The response of vegetation to climate variability was zonal. In these ecotones, NDVI change was more sensitive to monthly temperature than to monthly precipitation. (4) The coefficient of variation (Cov) of vegetation went through several stages. The Cov fluctuated little in the 1980s, was relatively stable in the 1990s, and had higher positive variation in the first 15 years of this century. (5) The response of vegetation cover to human activities was not significant. While NDVI was not correlated with population density and nighttime light intensity per square kilometer, it was locally positively correlated with sheep and total herbivorous livestock density per square kilometer. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the NDVI of the Hunshandake Sandy Land and its ecotones fluctuated in response to climate change, and although it has improved in this century, it has only reached the level of the mid- to late 1980s.

[Objective] Ecological restoration has become the main component and important content of ecological civilization construction. However, with the continuous expansion and in-depth development of ecological restoration work, the issue of misalignment of ecological restoration practices has emerged. This urgently requires attention and effective solutions to ensure the sustainable development of ecological restoration practices in China. [Methods] Based on the theoretical research on ecological restoration and by clarifying its connotation and goals, this study defined the connotation of misalignment of ecological restoration practices. It also examined the basis for the identification of ecological restoration misalignment, summarized the main types of ecological restoration misalignment in China, analyzed the reasons for the misalignment of ecological restoration, and put forward suggestions for correcting the misalignment of ecological restoration. [Results] The results show that the main types of ecological restoration misalignment in China include violation of the basic theory of ecological restoration, deviation from the connotation of ecological restoration goals, and inappropriate planning and implementation of ecological restoration projects. The main reasons for the misalignment of ecological restoration are incorrect conceptual understanding, insufficient grasp of patterns and mechanisms, insufficient integration of theory and practice, and inappropriate implementation in practice. [Conclusion] In the future, the misalignment of ecological restoration should be dealt with from the following four aspects: establishing correct ecological civilization concepts, understanding the patterns and mechanisms of the ecosystem, integrating theory and practice, and improving the implementation of ecological restoration projects. Promoting the ecological restoration of the national territorial space also needs to adopt diversified strategies.