The Way follows nature.
This idea first appeared in the Classic of the Way and Virtue. Dao, or the Way creates and nurtures everything, yet it does not command anything, but follows and accommodates the natural conditions of all things. This is the Daoist interpretation of the common feature of the entire universe: All things between heaven and earth must follow and operate in accordance with their natural conditions.
In political philosophy, the relationship between the Way and natural things implies that between the ruler and the people. The ruler should follow the natural requirements of the Way, place limits on his power, and govern by means of non-interference to allow the people to take their own natural course.
Ideas such as "The Way follows nature" and "harmony between humanity and nature" are the underlying philosophy of the Chinese culture, which embody the Chinese wisdom to pursue coexistence of humanity with nature.
Speaking at the UN Summit on Biodiversity in September 2020, Xi Jinping said: From the traditional Chinese wisdom that the laws of nature govern all things and that man must seek harmony with nature, to the new development philosophy emphasizing innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, China has always prioritized eco-environmental progress and embedded it in every dimension and phase of its economic and social development. The goal is to seek a kind of modernization that promotes harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
道法自然
“道法自然”出自《道德經》。“自然”指事物自主、自在的狀態。“道”創造、生養萬物，但“道”不會對萬物發號施令，而是效法、順應萬物之“自然”。這揭示了整個宇宙的特性，囊括了天地間所有事物的根本屬性，即宇宙天地間萬事萬物均效法或遵循“自然而然”的規律。“道”與萬物的關系，在政治哲學中表現為執政者與百姓的關系，執政者應遵循“道”的要求，節制自己的權力，以無為的方式效法、順應百姓的自然狀態。道法自然、天人合一是中華文明內在的生存理念，是謀求人與自然和諧共生的中國智慧。
2020年9月，習近平在聯合國生物多樣性峰會上的講話中指出，從道法自然、天人合一的中國傳統智慧，到創新、協調、綠色、開放、共享的新發展理念，中國把生態文明建設放在突出地位，融入中國經濟社會發展各方面和全過程，努力建設人與自然和諧共生的現代化。
