Qu Geping: Slow Environmental Protection Advancement Lies in Lagging Systems

“The last chance to save the earth” “Don’t regret having done nothing now in 2020” People use these frightening words to describe the Copenhagen Climate Conference that ended recently. Certainly, science is showing us that the danger is becoming more and more prominent. Climate negotiations are in a desperate state. How much money and technology do the governments need to build a Noah’s Ark so that we can once again live on a safe planet?
Global warming, emission reduction targets and low carbon economy are just concepts to everyday people. But they are noticing that the weather is becoming less predictable and that the amount of green spaces are becoming fewer and fewer. So why do we develop the economy? Can life be happy if people cannot breathe fresh air, see the sunlight and drink clean water, even if they more affluent? How can we settle the inherent conflicts between economic development and environmental protection? The whole world is looking for an answer. China, have you found it yet?
On 19 December, Qu Geping, Director of China Environmental Protection Foundation and first Director of the former State Environmental Protection Administration, Wang Canfa, Environmental Law Professor of China University of Political Science and Law and leading environmentalist in China and Wang Yongchen, creator of “Green Earth Volunteers” joined Guizhou TV’s Forum show to discuss on how to realize the green dream with Long Yongtu, Secretary of the Boao Forum for Asia
Qu Geping: Slow environmental protection advancement lies in lagging systems
As a key environmental figure in China, Qu Geping has witnessed the startup and development of the environmental protection industry in the new China. Talking on environmental protection, Mr. Qu said with much emotion, “I have been engaged in this for 40 years. Things seem to turn better. But I always feel that its progress is too slow.”
Some people have called the environmental protection law a soft law. Mr. Qu expressed that there was no question about the law itself. The problem lies in its enforcement. It is not enforced strictly and offenders are not punished.
“We have so many laws. 26 laws and over one thousands of regulations, why can’t they be enforced? What is the problem?” Mr. Qu said, “Why is pollution so serious and why is natural ecology so damaged? The answer is our economic growth. Our mode of production is high investment, high pollution and low efficiency. This mode is actually being phased out. The Central Government has said on many occasions that the mode of economic development must be changed. Why does it change so slowly? This is because of the lagging reform of economic and political systems. It related to problems in all aspects. Environmental protection will not advance if these systems are not reformed and if the cyclic economy and a conservation-oriented society are not established.”
Long Yongtu: Environmental protection court works
Long Yongtu held that to maintain the dignity of the environmental protection law and intensify its authority was very important. Only when this is done can the law work to protect the environment.
He said, “As to what I know, Guiyang has established an environmental protection court to protect its two big water sources, namely the two lakes providing drinking water to the citizens. Anyone who violates the law will be sent to the court. Some small business runners or some other people do not care about the penalty for their violation of laws. They might be imposed a penalty of RMB 50,000, but they can earn RMB 1 million. However, they are scared of being sent to prison for half a year or so for their violation. So, the environmental protection court established in Guizhou does work.”
He further pointed out, “the costs of violating the environmental protection law should be increased a lot. Thus, the laws can be fully enforced. Otherwise, if the law is a soft law, it will not work.”
Wang Canfa: Civil accusation is also an important way
Wang Canfa, Environmental Law Professor of China University of Political Science and Law and leading environmentalist in China expressed that China's environmental protection legislation was sound and that the main problem was its enforcement.
“Problems in law enforcement include enforcement by environmental protection departments being obstructed in various ways,” Wang Canfa said, “Then, can we rely on the force of the common people to enforce the law? So, the victims of pollution may accuse those polluting enterprises and force them to observe the law. I think this does work to some extent. For example, we have won one third of the 135 cases we have supported. If we win the case, the common people will surely be compensated. In addition, even in the cases we have lost, over 20 enterprises stopped polluting. What’s the reason? It’s because of the media reports. It puts pressure on the administrative organs, and the organs will demand that those polluting enterprises stop polluting. So, civil reporting is also a very important way to ensure that the environmental protection law is enforced and abided by.” (Source: China Water Network)