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Contents
- Description of Initiative
- Collaborating Organizations
- New Developments in Chinese Environmental Law
- Events
- Legal Resources
- 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.
After meeting with Chinese environmental officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in September, 2007, then EPA General Counsel Roger Martella decided to encourage a continuing dialogue between the U.S. and China on environmental law by launching the EPA-China Environmental Law Initiative. 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.
We look forward to sharing information on these initiatives here.
Additional Information on the launch of the EPA - China Environmental Law Initiative (including a description of 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
- University of Maryland Environmental Law Program
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
- Report on Indicators of Major Pollutant Discharges of All Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities for the First Half of 2008 (MEP news release, 9/24/08)
- Scientists fear impact of Asian pollutants on U.S. (McClatchy newspapers, 8/31/08)
- American Bar Association, International Environmental Law Committee Newsletter. The August 2008 issue focuses on Chinese environmental law. Contributors include: Robert Percival, Roger Martella, Charles R. McElwee II, and others.
- A Strategic Economic Engagement: Strengthening U.S.-Chinese Ties (by Henry M. Paulson Jr., Foreign Affairs, September-October 2008)
- Winds of Change for China's Environment Protection (MEP Press Release, 8/15/08)
Pollution Control
- Classified Directory for Environmental Management of Construction Projects (MEP news release, 9/26/08)
- New traffic ban takes 800,000 cars off Beijing roads (MEP News release, 10/14/08)
- Local Officials Face Penalties over Pollution (MEP news release, 9/12/08)
- Beijingers vexed on keeping car ban (China Daily, 8/31/08)
- NPC standing committee reads draft laws on food safety, recycling (China Daily, 8/25/08)
- Beijing to adopt stricter environment measures after Olympics: official (Xinhua News Agency, 8/23/08)
- China to continue anti-pollution campaigns after Olympics (Xinhua News Agency, 8/3/08)
Public Participation
- Dusty Struggle in a Cement Kiln’s Shadow (Caijing Magazine, 8/29/08)
Climate Change / Energy
- Sino-American Working Group on Climate Change Launched by Tsinghua University and the University of California Santa Barbara. They will hold the first formal meeting of the working group in November 2008 in China.
- MIT report debunks China energy myth: The problem isn't in the technology, it's the operations (MIT News Office, 10/6/08)
- Scientist urges U.S. to stop 'blaming' China for its emissions (Earth News, 9/29/08)
- China government adviser urges greenhouse gas cuts (Reuters, 9/8/08)
- China Passes U.S., Leads World in Power Sector Carbon Emissions (Center for Global Development, 9/8/08)
- Tax on big cars raised to save fuel (China Daily.com, 8/14/08)
- Hearing on China's Energy Policies and Their Environmental Impacts (U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, 8/13/08)
Natural Resources
- Revised Resource Tax System to be Announced (January 14, 2008)
Sustainability / Pollution Prevention
- Broader Environment Checks on Table (China Daily, 10/7/08)
- Proposal to cut country's emissions (China Daily, 9/19/08)
- Environmental Guidelines for Firms Investing abroad (MEP news release, 9/12/08)
- China adopts law to promote circular economy (China Daily, 8/30/08)
- Recycling law to bolt progression price system (China Daily, 8/26/08)
- China to regulate recycling of electronic waste (Xinhua News Agency, 8/20/08)
International Cooperation
- U.S. and China Establish Ten-Year Framework for Cooperation on Energy and Environment. At the June, 2008 meeting of the U.S.–China Strategic Economic Dialogue, the U.S. and China signed a “Framework for the Ten Year Cooperation on Energy and Environment.” EPA is among the agencies included on the Steering Committee. Cooperation ranges in 3 broad areas: Energy, Pollution Abatement, and Natural Resource Conservation.
- California to cooperate on climate with China (Reuters, 4/22/08)
Events
- China’s Water Laws and New Conservation Technologies.
October 31, 2008, 11:30-1:15, Regal International East Asia Hotel.
An AmCham Shanghai Environmental Committee Event
- Giving the Courts Green Teeth - Current Developments in Environmental Enforcement in China.
Sponsored by China Environment Forum, 10/22/08
- Panel on China and the Environment, September 19, 2008. American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) ’ 16th Section Fall Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
Panelists: Charles McElwee (Squire & Sanders), Robert Percival (University of Maryland Law School and Fulbright Scholar in Beijing), Roger Martella (former EPA General Counsel, now with Sidley Austin LLP), Steve Wolfson (EPA Office of General Counsel); Moderator: Margaret Kim (Cal EPA).
- Greening Business in China. Presented by China Environment Forum,
Friday, July 11 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Terry Yosie, World Environment Center; Weijia Ye, New Ventures/World Resources Institute
- China's Carbon Challenge. Presented by China Environment Forum, Thursday, July 17 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Jim Watson, Sussex Energy Group; Trevor Houser, Rhodium Group, LLC
- China's Environment: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It? Held at the University of California, Berkeley, December 7-8, 2007. A summary of the presentations is available, as well as links to online videos of the conference.
Legal Resources
Find links to information on Chinese environmental statutes, regulations, directives, and treaties, as well as selected reports and articles relating to Chinese environmental Law.
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