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Contents
- Description of Initiative
- Environmental Law Cooperation with China
- Collaborating Organizations
- New Developments in Chinese Environmental Law
- Events
- Legal Resources
- Resource Documents by Topic
- Related Links
- E-mail Updates
- Disclaimer
Description of Initiative
China has been working with great determination in recent years to develop, implement, and enforce a solid environmental law framework. Chinese officials face critical challenges in effectively implementing the laws, clarifying the roles of their national and provincial governments, and strengthening the operation of their legal system.
EPA Office of General Counsel launched the EPA – China Environmental Law Initiative in September, 2007, to encourage a continuing dialogue between the U.S. and China on environmental law. The goals of the initiative include:
- Sharing EPA's legal experience and expertise 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.
Many of these cooperative activities take place in collaboration with other EPA offices, including EPA Office of International Affairs, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Water, Office of Air and Radiation, and EPA Regional Offices.
We look forward to sharing information on these initiatives here.
Additional Information on international cooperation efforts on Chinese environmental law (including information on OGC's meetings with Chinese environmental officials) is available.
Collaborating Organizations
Collaborating Organizations
- American Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai -- Environment Committee
- China Environment Forum (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars)
- George Washington University Law School
- Pace University Law School
- University of Maryland Environmental Law Program
- Vermont Law School Partnership for Environmental Law in China
EPA is collaborating with organizations that have expertise in Chinese environmental law and in environmental issues faced by U.S. entities in China. A list of collaborators appears in the box on the right. These organizations may:
- contribute material for inclusion on the web site
- share with EPA their insights as to what material would be useful to include.
New Developments in Chinese Environmental Law
General
- IUCN Wuhan Colloquium on Environmental Law / 10th Anniversary of Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (CLAPV) (Global Environmental Law Blog, 11/12/09)
- As China's economy grows, so do mounds of garbage (Associated Press, 10/11/09)
- China Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) Internal Structure (lists and describes the function of each MEP Department)
- China Ministry of Environmental Protection Organization Chart
Pollution Control
-
China needs to cut use of chemical fertilizers: research (Reuters, 1/14/10)
- China will look into report of cadmium in childrens' jewelry (USA Today, 1/12/10)
- Environmental Standards in Effect as of December 1, 2009 (China Ministry of Environmental Protection, 12/25/09)
- Environmental Standards in Effect as of November 1, 2009 (China Ministry of Environmental Protection, 12/16/09)
- Environmental Standards in Effect as of October 1, 2009 (China Ministry of Environmental Protection, 12/16/09)
- China Issues Environment Standards for Lead Smelting Industry (Bloomberg,com, 11/25/09)
- Chinese academician: land pollution control crucial for lake restoration (Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11/6/09)
- China to cut pesticide companies by 30% to reduce pollution (China Daily.com, 11/3/09)
- China launches scheme to label low-carbon-intensive products (Xinhua News Agency, 10/15/09)
- Big-name companies conceal pollution info (ChinaDaily.com, 10/15/09)
- MEP Announced National Evaluation Results of Pollution Reduction for H1, 2009--Downward Trend of Discharges of Two Major Pollutants Continued (MEP News Release, 9/28/09)
- Rivers need to be cleaned up (ChinaDaily.com, 9/24/09)
- China issues regulation to curb marine pollution by ships (Chinaorg.com, 9/17/09)
- MEP Requires to Practically Enhance Planning EIA Work (MEP News Release, 9/10/09)
Public Participation
- Chinese environmental group wins two cases (Associated Press, 12/18/09)
- Courting Change Environmental groups in China now have the ability to sue polluters. But will they? (Wall Street Journal, 12/7/09) [subscription required]
- Bloggers Put China's Pollution on the Map (China Real Time Report Blog of the Wall Street Journal, 11/2/09) [subscription required]
- NGOs Assess Compliance With Public Disclosure Law (CCTV.com, 8/23/09) Video clip, in English
- Fighting pollution on the Pearl River, by
Reut Barak
(China Dialogue, 9/28/09)
- Faced with suit, China resolves pollution case; Green movement hails 'breakthrough' (Washington Times, 9/2/09)
Climate Change / Energy
- Basic countries to meet ahead of crucial Copenhagen accord deadline (The Guardian, 1/12/10)
- China Adopts Amendment to Renewable Energy Law (China Ministry of Environmental Protection, 12/30/09)
- China Announces Targets on Carbon Dioxide Emission Cuts China Ministry of Environmental Protection, 12/30/09)
- USAID Launches U.S. - China Climate Partnership (US AID Press Release, 12/30/09)
- How do I know China wrecked the Copenhagen deal? I was in the room, by Mark Lynas (The Guardian, 12/22/09)
- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's address, delivered at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit (China Ministry of Environmental Protection, 12/21/09)
- China strives to contribute more to global fight against climate change (People's Daily Online, 12/15/09)
- Carbon debate creates climate for China's civil society to grow, By Shi Jiangtao (Clean Air Network, 12/9/09)
- Climate Commitments to 2050: A Roadmap for China - Special Report for the Copenhagen Climate Talks (East-West Dialogue, Issue #4, December 2009) (PDF, 16pp, 424K)
- Assessing China's Carbon-Cutting Proposal (By Michael A. Levi and David M. Rubenstein, Council on Foreign Relations, 11/30/09)
- Asia Society Panel on U.S. - China Climate, Obama & Copenhagen (Video), By Alex Wang (Greenlaw blog, 12/1/09)
- U.S. and China reach accord on data collection (Washington Post,, 11/19/09)
- Hummer Is a ‘Garbage Brand’ -- China's top climate-change negotiator makes a case that his country is gearing up for the December summit in Copenhagen. (Newsweek.com, 11/3/09)
- China FAQs: the Network for Climate and Energy Information (World Resources Institute)
- China's President Hu Jintao to Unveil 'Suite' of Voluntary Emissions Targets (New York Times, 9/22/09)
- Text of Hu Jintao’s Speech on Climate Change (New York Times, 9/22/09)
Sustainability / Pollution Prevention
- Green Light Bulbs 'May Pollute Water' (ChinaDaily.com, 12/31/09)
- World's Top Polluter Emerges as Green-Technology Leader (Wall Street Journal, 12/15/09) [subscription required]
International Cooperation
- EPA Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with China to Build Capacity to Address Climate Change (U.S. EPA News Release, 11/19/09)
- Memorandum of Cooperation Between China and EPA to Build Capacity to Address Climate Change Signed 11/17/09 (PDF, 4pp, 858K)
- U.S. China Joint Statement--see Section V: Climate Change, Energy, and Environment (White House Press Release, 11/17/09)
- U.S.-China Partnership Develops Next Generation of Environmental Advocates (Vermont Law School Press Release, 10/2/09)
Events
- EPA recently met with Wang Canfa, professor at China University of Political Science and Law and director of the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (CLAPV). Vermont Law School recently named Professor Wang an Honorary Distinguished Lecturer in Environmental Law in recognition of his efforts to promote the development of environmental law in China and his collaboration with Vermont Law School. More on Professor Wang's visit to the U.S.
Legal Resources
Find links to information on Chinese environmental statutes, regulations, directives, treaties, and international cooperation documents.
Resource Documents By Topic
Find links to articles and reports dealing with Chinese environmental law and policy.
Disclaimer
The information appearing on this Web site is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice to any individual or entity. If you desire legal advice, you may wish to consult with a legal advisor. You should not rely on information from this website for legal advice.
EPA makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this site, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this site. No warranty of any kind is given with respect to the contents of this Web site or its links to other Internet resources.
Reference in this site to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the EPA