Evolution of environmental thought and enforcement of environmental protection legislation in China: The Status Quo

Abstract

This paper analyzes the background, the process, and the evolution of environmental thought of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in its approval of the Environmental Protection Law (for trial implementation) in 1979. It also discusses its subsequent revision in 1989 followed by its eventual official enactment in 2014. It further evaluates the effectiveness of this legal enactment since it came into force in 2015 in addressing various pressing environmental issues confronting China today. It is concluded that despite the evolution of thought over the past few decades in giving priority to environmental protection to economic growth, casual conservation on the ground indicates that this does not necessarily transform into action in reality.