Environmental Protection Act Revised for First Time in 25 Years

The third sessions of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are currently being held in Beijing. General assembly members proposed to revise the Environmental Protection Act. This is the first time the Law has been revised in 25 years.

China’s environmental law was passed as a trial in 1979, and it was formally enacted in 1989. Since 30 years of the reform and opening up, China’s economy has made great achievements. However, at the same, the growing economy activities also negatively affected China’s environmental condition. The existing environmental laws have not adapted to China’s current economic development.

On March 8, China’s National People’s Congress Chairman Zhang Dejiang said, by standing Committee in-depth research and fully listening to people’s voices, after four time deliberations, the conference committee would completely revise the Environmental Protection Act since its enactment in December 1989.

After A Chinese Woman Fought Against China’s Air Pollution

Since Chinese journalist Chaijing released an environmental documentary last month named “China’s Haze: Under the Doom,”  the video has received more than two million hits. People’s Daily is one of the most important Chinese official newspapers, and one of the first media outlets that released this documentary on its official website. Chen Jining, the current bureau chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, praised the film as well.

When asked about Chai’s motives to make the film at a recent speech in Beijing, she said, “This is my personal grudge with the smog.” She explained that she could not take her daughter outside for half of 2014 because of the air pollution in Beijing.

Since 2001, Chai had worked as an investigative reporter at CCTV,  China’s state broadcaster. She produced shows mostly about environmental and social issues and in the process, exposed wrongdoings of many state officials and business companies. She left the network in 2014.

After obtaining the news of Chai’s leaving, the media tried to confirm this information with Chai herself, but she would not respond. Regarding the reasons for her leaving, there were a number of informed sources. According to reports, the CCTV system started to cut employee salaries by 30 percent since the first half of the year in 2014. This was viewed as one of the most significant reasons. Responding to this speculation, some CCTV insiders emphasized that CCTV cut down the bonus by three percent, not salaries. Some said that they never heard about this. Some addressed that they have heard this rumor but have not received any notices.