Implementation of China's environmental law vital: vice minister
Updated: 2014-04-29 14:13
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
BEIJING - Vice minister for the environment Pan Yue on Monday described new environmental protection laws as powerful tools against pollution, but warned of challenges in implementation.
"Good environmental law only gets you halfway there. It needs to be implemented," Pan told Xinhua in an interview.
Calling the new law "the most powerful legislation in the environmental category", the vice minister said it could still fail without ironclad enforcement.
Pan's remarks came days after the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee approved sweeping revisions to the law with tough penalties for polluters.
After two years of discussion, the revision expands the law to 70 articles from 47, enshrining environmental protection as the government's overriding priority, with specific articles and provisions on smog.
Pan acknowledged that China faces tough environmental problems. Legislation on air, water and soil pollution are included in the NPC Standing Committee's five-year legislation plan.
A draft amendment to the air pollution prevention law will be tabled for a first reading in December, and the ministry of environment is working on a draft soil pollution law. Preparatory work on water pollution law has also started.
Top legislature mulls changes to environmental protection law
Artist advocates environmental protection
China to improve environmental protection legislation
Related Stories
Amend the Environmental Protection Law correctly 2012-11-02 21:41
Q+A | Ministry of environmental protection 2014-03-26 09:04
Environmental protection high on agenda 2014-02-26 16:47
Today's Top News
Philippine pact gives US access to air, sea bases
Hunt resumes for bodies inside ferry
Ukrainian mayor wounded by gunfire
Alibaba IPO: Could be the biggest ever
Russia assures US it won't invade Ukraine
Japanese state minister visits Yasukuni shrine
Policeman's fake IDs spur investigations
Driver kills seven in E. China
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Documents prove the truth can't be buried |
Race to remember story of resistance |
Strait talking: From enemy to friend |
Welcome to the world’s largest garbage dump |
The latest word on books: Keep those pages coming |
Uygurs learn what's in a name |