EPA Launches China Environmental Law Initiative Web Site

December 19, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The web site features information on new developments in Chinese environmental law, links to legal resources such as reports, articles and the English text of many Chinese environmental laws and an e-mail update service, said the EPA.

The goals of the EPA - China Environmental Law Initiative, which was launched in September 2007, include:

• Sharing the EPA's legal experience to help improve China’s environmental health.
• Sharing information useful to U.S. entities with business or other stakes in how China addresses environmental issues.
• Fostering an ongoing dialogue on environmental law issues with China.

The initiative came about because Chinese experts wanted to strengthen aspects of China's environmental laws and wanted the opportunity to learn from the U.S. in areas including regulation of enterprises, "environmental federalism" and the use of market-based mechanisms, said the EPA.

Discussion focused on several aspects of China's environmental protection framework including:

• Plans for reduction in major pollutants.
• Target responsibility system for holding local officials accountable for achieving pollution reduction goals.
• Plans for new and amended legislation including the Energy Conservation law.
• Environmental impact assessment requirement.
• Three simultaneous policies, which provide for pollution control equipment to be designed, constructed and operated simultaneously with the design, construction and operation of new facilities.

The EPA is undertaking this web partnership project with experts in Chinese environmental law. Collaborators in this project include the Environmental Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, the Woodrow Wilson Center China Environment Forum, the University of Maryland Environmental Law Program and the George Washington University Law School.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).