China’s environmental protection practices

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Environmental protection used to be the least important issue for enterprises and local governments. According to Li Ganjie, Minister of Environmental Protection, awareness of environmental protection has been much strengthened nationwide.

During the press conference on environmental protection, Li added that law enforcement is another key for environmental protection achievements.

China’s environmental protection has long been troubled by the weak enforcement, said Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.

CGTN Photo

He pointed out enterprises previously had no motivation for a green economy as the cost of pollution is much lower than that of compliance. Therefore, factories refused to implement new technologies which would help reduce pollution.

Still, enterprises were indulged by local governments which only had the aim of economic growth regardless of environmental protection.

The lack of inspection also emboldens local governments and the enterprises to disregard the issue. Ma Jun indicated that things are starting to change. In the past few years, the central government has sent thousands of inspectors to the local governments to hold local officials accountable.

Apart from that, Ma also called for public supervision which requires the enterprises to disclose their environmental data.

Another key in enforcing the environmental law, according to Ma, is to incorporate the behaviors of enterprises into a credit system where any violation could lead to problems such as receiving a bank loan, issuing bonds or getting contracts from business partners.

CGTN Photo

As the largest carbon contributor, China’s efforts in dealing with climate change have a huge impact on the world. Ma Jun stated that during the past five years, China has managed to stabilize the once-rapid increase of coal consumption.

As General Secretary Xi Jinping said Wednesday in his report at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress, China has taken a driver's seat in international cooperation on climate change and become an "important participant, contributor, and torchbearer" in the global endeavor for ecological civilization.

As the United States is trying to pull out the Paris Accord, China should play a leading role in global environmental governance.

Ma Jun suggested that China should address its domestic environmental problems in the first place. Then China should share its experiences with other countries. With joint efforts, China has been committed to making the world cleaner and better.