CCTV9英语新闻：Report evaluates implementation of revised Environmental Protection Law

Turning now to an evaluation report on China's new Environmental Protection Law. The revision to the old law was hailed as the toughest in history as it empowered environmental authorities to enforce the rules and punish polluters.

Now almost a year and a half after the new law went into effect, a report details what has been achieved and what has proved challenging. CCTV’s Zhong Shi joins me now in the studio with more details. 

Q1. Zhong Shi, the report was jointly compiled by environmental law experts from 6 universities. What did it find? 

One reason the revision was desperately needed was environmental authorities lacked power in punishing polluters and enforcing existing laws…A well-known metaphor called them “paper tigers”, having no real teeth and therefore no real intimidation effect. Now according to the report, environmental authorities are much more powerful.

For starters, they can now seize and confiscate equipment and apparatuses. In 2015, China handled close to 42 hundred cases in which polluting companies were closed or polluters assets seized. And, if a factory or a project fails to meet environmental standards, authorities can now call off production. Last year, a total of 3,100 cases were recorded where production was restricted or even halted completely. 

Before the revised law, less than 1% of polluters were charged criminally. Last year, we saw close to 3,800 cases where polluters were either detained or transferred to authorities on criminal charges. And the scenario where a polluting company would rather pay the fine than correct its conduct is a lot less likely. 

Now when they’re fined, for each day they refuse to change, the fine can be levied again, and again, until they correct their wrongdoing. 715 such cases were recorded with fines totalling 570 million yuan the correction rate? 85%. A total game changer. 

Q2. To think that things will just change dramatically in a year is unrealistic but it seems that the new law is exerting pressure on companies to obey the rules. But going forward, is the law sufficient? What does the report say about problems left untouched? 

You’re right. The first thing that might hamper environmental protection is the slowing economy. That old, clichéd relationship between economic development and environmental protection has never really evolved. The downward pressure on the economy might lead to local governments easing oversight on pollution. 

Then, relevant, specific regulations have yet to be stipulated to support the law. For example, the emission permit system and environmental monitoring rules have been in the making forever leading to confusion and creating gray areas. 

And there’s the enforcement problem. Enforcement personnel have been given more power now that they’re backed by the new law, but think of what they’re doing in the line of duty, confiscating equipment, collecting fines, and lecturing polluters on the importance of protection. These tasks can still prove difficult on a day to day basis, especially on the local level.

Just like you said, a year is a very short time to see how effective the new law can be. But I think It’s fair to say we’re off to a good start now that multiple parties feel more pressured to do the right thing.