China's new environmental law threatens economic development

China is seriously concerned about the environmental situation in the country and the smog hanging over industrial centers and cities. The government has issued a new law that allows for the closure of polluting factories and industries under a simplified scheme, and also provides for severe penalties for officials covering up dirty production.

The law on environmental protection was last amended in 1989, and by the end of this year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection will receive broader powers. In China, when discussing amendments to the new law, which will be finally adopted by the end of this year, an agreement was reached on the principle of priority of the environment over economic benefits. For the first time, scientists participated in the adoption of the law, whose opinion remained decisive.

“Protecting the environment as a fundamental principle is a tremendous achievement, emphasizing the priority of environmental issues,” said a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law.

For the first time in 25 years, Beijing has officially declared war on pollution, but no full agreement has yet been reached. China's economic boom for decades has been associated with increased production and the inevitable pollution of water, air and soil. This economic model made it possible to solve the issues of employment of the population and brought financial benefits to the authorities, so the introduction of the new law will be gradual. After all, new costs can raise the prices of many manufactured goods.

Now the Ministry of Environmental Protection will be able to send inspectors to check the activities of the company. Also, the Ministry will have the right to fine, issue warnings to companies or officially suspend the activities of the corporation until emissions are reduced. Serious punitive measures will be carried out only for hard-core repeat offenders. It is envisaged that violating production facilities will be closed and their property confiscated. The new law will also allow the creation of special zones in the country, closed to manufacturing and polluting industries. Plants will be required to report on the level of emissions, and local governments regularly check these data, enterprises under construction will be required to invite commissions assessing the degree of damage caused by the production of plants.

At the moment, polluting industries are trying to lobby for a new bill, but for the first time it seems that environmental NGOs and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are winning.