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{{Short description|Department of the State Council of the People's Republic of China}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2013}}
{{expand Chinese|date=March 2023|topic=gov}}
{{Infobox Government agency
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Ministry of Environmental Protection
| agency_name = Ministry of Ecology and Environment the People's Republic of China
|nativename =
|nativename_a = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|环境保护部}}}}
| nativename_a = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-Hans|中华人民共和国生态环境部}}}}
|nativename_r = {{small|''Huánjìng Bǎohùbù''}}
| nativename_r = {{small|''Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Shengtai-Huánjìng Bù''}}
|logo =
| logo =
|logo_width =
| logo_width =
|logo_caption =
| logo_caption =
|seal =
| image = 中华人民共和国生态环境部.jpg
|seal_width =
| seal =
|seal_caption =
| seal_width =
|formed =
| seal_caption =
| formed = {{start date and age|df=yes|2008|3}}
|preceding1 = State Environmental Protection Administration
| preceding1 = State Environmental Protection Administration
|preceding2 =
|dissolved =
| preceding2 =
|superseding =
| dissolved =
|jurisdiction = {{PRC}}
| superseding =
|headquarters = [[Beijing]]
| jurisdiction = [[Government of China]]
| headquarters = [[Beijing]]
|employees =
|budget =
| employees =
| budget =
|minister1_name = [[Chen Jining]]
| minister1_name = [[Huang Runqiu]]
|minister1_pfo =
| minister1_pfo =
|parent_agency = [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]]
| deputyminister1_name = [[Sun Jinlong]]
|child1_agency =
| deputyminister1_pfo = Party Committee Secretary
|child2_agency =
| deputyminister2_name = [[Zhai Qing]]
|website = {{URL|http://english.mep.gov.cn/}}
| deputyminister2_pfo =
|footnotes =
| deputyminister3_name = [[Zhao Yingmin]]
| deputyminister3_pfo =
| deputyminister4_name = [[Guo Fang]]
| deputyminister4_pfo =
| deputyminister5_name = [[Dong Baotong]]
| deputyminister5_pfo = Administrator of [[National Nuclear Safety Administration]]
| chief1_name = [[Liao Xiyuan]]
| chief1_position = Leader of Discipline Inspection & Supervision Team
| chief2_name = [[Liu Bingjiang]]
| chief2_position = Chief Engineer
| chief3_name = [[Tian Weiyong]]
| chief3_position = Chief Engineer for Nuclear Safety
| chief4_name = [[Xie Zhenhua (politician)|Xie Zhenhua]]
| chief4_position = [[Special Envoy for Climate Change of China|Special Envoy for Climate Change]] (ministerial-level)
| chief5_name =
| chief5_position =
| chief6_name =
| chief6_position =
| chief7_name =
| chief7_position =
| chief8_name =
| chief8_position =
| chief9_name =
| chief9_position =
| parent_department =
| parent_agency = [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]]
| child1_agency =
| child2_agency =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| agency_type = [[Ministries of the People's Republic of China|Constituent Department of the State Council]] (cabinet-level executive department)
}}
}}
The '''Ministry of Environmental Protection''' ('''MEP''') of the [[Government of the People's Republic of China]], formerly '''State Environmental Protection Administration''' ('''SEPA'''), is a cabinet-level ministry in the [[executive branch]] of the Chinese Government ([[People's Republic of China]]). It replaced the SEPA during the March [[2008 National People's Congress]] sessions in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-03-11/152315124637.shtml |title=华建敏：组建环境保护部加大环境保护力度_新闻中心_新浪网 |publisher=News.sina.com.cn |date= |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref>


The '''Ministry of Ecology and Environment''' is an [[Ministries of the People's Republic of China|executive-department]] of the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China]], responsible for the ecological and environmental affairs. It is the 15th-ranked department in the State Council.
The Ministry is the nation's environmental protection department charged with the task of protecting China's air, water, and land from pollution and contamination. Directly under the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]], it is empowered and required by law to implement environmental policies and enforce environmental laws and regulations. Complementing its regulatory role, it funds and organizes research and development. In addition, it also serves as China's [[nuclear safety]] agency.<ref>[http://english.sepa.gov.cn/xztz/jgzn/gszn/200405/t20040513_50000.htm ]{{dead link|date=February 2013}}</ref>

The Ministry is the nation's environmental protection department charged with the task of protecting China's air, water, and land from pollution and contamination. Directly under the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]], it is empowered and required by law to implement environmental policies and enforce environmental laws and regulations. Complementing its regulatory role, it funds and organizes research and development.


==History==
==History==
In 1972, Chinese representatives attended the First [[United Nations Conference on the Human Environment]], held in [[Sweden]]. The next year, 1973, saw the establishment of the Environmental Protection Leadership Group. In 1983, the Chinese government announced that environmental protection would become a state policy. In 1998, China went through a disastrous year of serious flooding, and the Chinese government upgraded the Leading Group to a ministry-level agency, which then became the State Environmental Protection Administration.
In 1972, Chinese representatives attended the First [[United Nations Conference on the Human Environment]], held in [[Sweden]]. The next year, 1973, saw the establishment of the Environmental Protection Leadership Group. In 1983, the Chinese government announced that environmental protection would become a state policy. In 1998, China went through a disastrous year of serious flooding, and the Chinese government upgraded the Leading Group to a ministry-level agency, which then became the State Environmental Protection Administration.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

In March 2008, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) was established, replacing the State Environmental Protection Administration.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

During 2016–2017, the MEP temporarily shut down approximately 40% of all Chinese factories as part of an environmental protection campaign.<ref name=":9223">{{Cite book |last=Ding |first=Iza |title=Greening East Asia: The Rise of the Eco-Developmental State |date=2020 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |isbn=978-0-295-74791-0 |editor-last=Esarey |editor-first=Ashley |location=Seattle |chapter=Pollution Emissions Trading in China |jstor=j.ctv19rs1b2 |editor-last2=Haddad |editor-first2=Mary Alice |editor-last3=Lewis |editor-first3=Joanna I. |editor-last4=Harrell |editor-first4=Stevan}}</ref>{{Rp|page=90}}

Pollutant trading programs were administered under the MEP and local Environmental Protection Bureaus until 2018.<ref name=":9223"/>{{Rp|page=78}}

In 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) was established,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Joanna I. |title=Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector |date=2023 |publisher=The [[MIT Press]] |isbn=978-0-262-54482-5 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref>{{Rp|page=95}} replacing the MEP.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-03-11/152315124637.shtml |title = 华建敏：组建环境保护部加大环境保护力度_新闻中心_新浪网 |publisher=[[Sina Corp]] |access-date=2013-02-12 }}</ref> A number of environmental policy functions were merged from other ministries into the MEE, including climate policy previously under the [[National Development and Reform Commission]] (NDRC) and a number of environmental policy functions previously under the [[Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Water Resources]] and the [[State Oceanic Administration]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=95}} Pollutant and carbon emissions trading programs, which had previously been under the MEP's jurisdiction, were also placed within the MEE's control.<ref name=":9223"/>{{Rp|page=78}}

In 2019, the MEE established the [[Belt and Road Initiative|BRI]] International Green Development Coalition as a joint project with the environmental agencies of twenty-five other countries.<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last1=Shinn |first1=David H. |title=China's Relations with Africa: a New Era of Strategic Engagement |last2=Eisenman |first2=Joshua |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21001-0 |location=New York |author-link=David H. Shinn}}</ref>{{Rp|page=60}}

==Role==
According to regulations concerning the Ministry, the MEE is responsible for protecting, regulating, and monitoring the environment, as well as enforcing environmental policies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=11 September 2018 |title=生态环境部职能配置、内设机构和人员编制规定 |trans-title=Regulations on the functional configuration, internal structure and staffing of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment |url=https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2018-09/11/content_5320982.htm |access-date=4 October 2023 |website=[[State Council of the People's Republic of China]]}}</ref> It is responsible for pollution control, conserving the ecosystem, formulating environmental standards, conducting environmental impact assessments, environmental protection inspections, addressing climate change, supervising emissions reduction targets, supervising nuclear safety, as well as international environmental cooperation.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":022">{{Cite web |title=Decoding Chinese Politics |url=https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/decoding-chinese-politics |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=[[Asia Society]]}}</ref> It also has jurisdiction over China's [[nuclear safety]] agency.<ref>[http://english.sepa.gov.cn/xztz/jgzn/gszn/200405/t20040513_50000.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503041607/http://english.sepa.gov.cn/xztz/jgzn/gszn/200405/t20040513_50000.htm|date=2007-05-03}}</ref>

MEE regulates water quality, ambient air quality, solid waste, soil, noise, radioactivity. In the area of R&D activities, MEE's predecessor MEP has funded a series of "Key Laboratories" in different parts of the country, including: Laboratory for Urban Air Particles Pollution Prevention and Control for Environmental Protection, Laboratory on Environment and Health, Laboratory on [[Industrial ecology|Industrial Ecology]], Laboratory on Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Recovery, and Laboratory on Biosafety.<ref name="english.sepa.gov.cn">[http://english.sepa.gov.cn/kjbz/index.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008042847/http://english.sepa.gov.cn/kjbz/index.htm|date=October 8, 2007}}</ref>

In addition, MEE also administers engineering and technical research centers related to environmental protection, including: Center for Non-ferrous Metal Industrial Pollution Control, Center for Clean Coal and Ecological Recovery of Mines, Center for Industrial Waste Water Pollution Control, Center for Industrial [[Flue gas|Flue Gas]] Control, Center for [[Hazardous Waste]] Treatment, and Center for [[Municipal solid waste|Solid Waste]] Treatment and Disposal of Mines.<ref name="english.sepa.gov.cn" />

China is experiencing an increase in environmental complaints: In 2005, there were 51,000 disputes over environmental pollution, according to SEPA minister Zhou Shengxian. From 2001 to 2005, Chinese environmental authorities received more than 2.53 million letters and 430,000 visits by 597,000 petitioners seeking environmental redress.<ref>{{cite web |title=Environmental protection in China: the role of law &#124; Alex Wang |date=5 February 2007 |url=http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/745-Environmental-protection-in-China-the-role-of-law |access-date=2013-02-12 |publisher=China Dialogue}}</ref>


==Organization==
==Organization==
There are 12 offices and departments under MEP, all at the ''si'' (司) level in the government ranking system. They carry out regulatory tasks in different areas and make sure that the agency is functioning accordingly:
There are 12 offices and departments under MEE, all at the ''si'' (司) level in the government ranking system. They carry out regulatory tasks in different areas and make sure that the agency is functioning accordingly. The MEE is the administrative home of the ministerial-level Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs, China's top envoy on international climate change negotiations. The Special Envoy is supported by the MEE's Office of Climate Change Affairs, headed by a vice minister.<ref name=":022" />


=== Department structure ===
=== Department structure ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Department
! ''Department''
! Chinese Name
! ''Chinese Name''
|-
|-
|General Administrative Office
|General Administrative Office
Line 51: Line 101:
|-
|-
|Department of Planning and Finance
|Department of Planning and Finance
| (规划与财务司)
|(规划与财务司)
|-
|-
|Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations
|Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations
Line 57: Line 107:
|-
|-
|Department of Science & Technology and Standards
|Department of Science & Technology and Standards
| (科技标准司)
|(科技标准司)
|-
|-
|Pollution Control Office
|Pollution Control Office
| (污染控制司)
|(污染控制司)
|-
|-
|Natural Ecosystem Protection Office
|Natural Ecosystem Protection Office
| (自然生态保护司)
|(自然生态保护司)
|-
|-
|Department of Environmental Impact Assessment
|Department of Environmental Impact Assessment
Line 75: Line 125:
|-
|-
|Environmental Inspection Office
|Environmental Inspection Office
| (环境监察局)
|(环境监察局)
|-
|-
|Office of Agency & Party Affairs
|Office of Agency & Party Affairs
Line 84: Line 134:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
|''Position''
! Position
|''Name''
! Person Name
|-
|-
|Administrator/ Minister:
| Minister of Ecology and Environment
|[[Chen Jining]]
|[[Huang Runqiu]]
|-
|-
|Vice-Minister:
| Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment
|[[Sun Jinlong]], [[Zhai Qing]], [[Zhao Yingmin]], [[Ye Min]]
|Pan Yue (潘岳)
|-
|-
|Head of Discipline:
| Head of the Discipline Inspection & Supervision Group Dispatched From the CCDI & the NSC
|[[Kurexi Maihesuti]]
|Zhu Guangyao (祝光耀)
|-
|Vice-Minister:
|Zhang Lijun (张力军)
|-
|Vice-Minister:
|Wu Xiaochun (吴晓青)
|-
|Vice-Minister:
|Zhou Jian (周建)
|-
|Vice-Minister, Bureau Chief for Nuclear Safety:
|Li Ganjie (李干杰)
|}
|}
Minister [[Xie Zhenhua]] resigned in December 2005 amidst an industrial pollution scandal by [[PetroChina]], a Chinese national oil company, on the [[Songhua River]] in the northeastern province [[Heilongjiang]]; local environmental protection officials were accused of protectionism, while senior officials at SEPA were blamed for their underestimating and ignoring the matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-11/24/content_497399.htm |title=Toxic water of polluted river reaches Harbin |publisher=Chinadaily.com.cn |date=2005-11-24 |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6179980.stm |title=Asia-Pacific &#124; China punishes river's polluters |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-11-24 |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref>


=== Regional centers ===
The Vice-Minister, [[Pan Yue]] (潘岳), who has served in SEPA with Xie and is still in power, has been one of the most vocal high-level officials in the Chinese government critical of the current development model. He warned during an interview with the German newspaper [[Der Spiegel]] in 2005 that "the Chinese miracle will end soon" if sustainable issues were not addressed urgently.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,345694,00.html |title=SPIEGEL Interview with China's Deputy Minister of the Environment: "The Chinese Miracle Will End Soon" - SPIEGEL ONLINE |publisher=Spiegel.de |date=2005-03-07 |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref>


In 2006, SEPA opened five regional centers to help with local inspections and enforcement. Today, the five centers are direct affiliates of MEE:<ref name=":022" />
=== Regional inspection and enforcement centers ===

In 2006, SEPA opened five regional centers to help with local inspections and enforcement. Today, the five centers are direct affiliates of MEP:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Region
! ''Region''
! Head Office
! ''Head Office''
! Enforcement Area
! ''Enforcement Area''
|-
|-
|Eastern Center
|Eastern Center
Line 141: Line 176:
|[[Liaoning]], [[Jining, Shandong|Jining]], and [[Heilongjiang]].
|[[Liaoning]], [[Jining, Shandong|Jining]], and [[Heilongjiang]].
|-
|-
|MEP headquarters
|MEE headquarters
|[[Beijing]]
|[[Beijing]]
|[[Beijing]], [[Tianjing]], [[Hebei]], [[Henan]], [[Shanxi]], and [[Inner Mongolia]].
|[[Beijing]], [[Tianjing]], [[Hebei]], [[Henan]], [[Shanxi]], and [[Inner Mongolia]].
|}
|}


==Areas of activities==
== List of ministers ==
MEP regulates water quality, ambient air quality, solid waste, soil, noise, radioactivity. In the area of R&D activities, MEP has funded a series of "Key Laboratories" in different parts of the country, including: Laboratory for Urban Air Particles Pollution Prevention and Control for Environmental Protection, Laboratory on Environment and Health, Laboratory on [[Industrial ecology|Industrial Ecology]], Laboratory on Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Recovery, and Laboratory on Biosafety.<ref name="english.sepa.gov.cn">[http://english.sepa.gov.cn/kjbz/index.htm ]{{dead link|date=February 2013}}</ref>

In addition, MEP also administers engineering and technical research centers related to environmental protection, including: Center for Non-ferrous Metal Industrial Pollution Control, Center for Clean Coal and Ecological Recovery of Mines, Center for Industrial Waste Water Pollution Control, Center for Industrial [[Flue gas|Flue Gas]] Control, Center for [[Hazardous Waste]] Treatment, and Center for [[Municipal solid waste|Solid Waste]] Treatment and Disposal of Mines.<ref name="english.sepa.gov.cn"/>

China is experiencing an increase in environmental complaints: In 2005, there were 51,000 disputes over environmental pollution, according to SEPA minister Zhou Shengxian. From 2001 to 2005, Chinese environmental authorities received more than 2.53 million letters and 430,000 visits by 597,000 petitioners seeking environmental redress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/745-Environmental-protection-in-China-the-role-of-law |title=Environmental protection in China: the role of law &#124; Alex Wang |publisher=China Dialogue |date= |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref>

==In the media==

===Economic development===
Vice minister [[Pan Yue]], a former journalist, said in an interview with [http://www.chinadialogue.net http://www.chinadialogue.net] that the fundamental cause of the worsening global environmental crisis "...is the capitalist system. The environmental crisis has become a new means of transferring the economic crisis.".<ref name="chinadialogue1">{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/493--The-rich-consume-and-the-poor-suffer-the-pollution- |title="The rich consume and the poor suffer the pollution" &#124; Pan Yue Zhou Jigang |publisher=China Dialogue |date= |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref> He believes China's role in the environmental crisis "... has arisen, basically, because our mode of economic modernisation has been copied from western, developed nations. In 30 years, China has achieved economic results that took a century to attain in the West. But we have also concentrated a century’s worth of environmental issues into those 30 years. While becoming the world leader in GDP growth and foreign investment, we have also become the world’s number one consumer of coal, oil and steel – and the largest producer of CO<sub>2</sub> and chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions.".<ref name="chinadialogue1"/>

===North Korean nuclear test===
After a North Korean nuclear test, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a press release "to reassure residents that no radioactive particles had been detected in aerosol samples collected" in the Northeast region.<ref name="28 March CEIP">{{cite web|last=Xie|first=Tao|title=What’s Wrong with China’s North Korea Policy?|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/03/26/what-s-wrong-with-china-s-north-korea-policy/ftjw|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|accessdate=28 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="28 March MW">{{cite web|last=Xu|first=Weiwei|title=China says North Korea nuclear test has no impact on its environment|url=http://www.morningwhistle.com/html/2013/PoliticsSociety_0214/217115.html|publisher=Morning Whistle|accessdate=28 March 2013|date=22 February 2013}}</ref>

==List of ministers==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! № !! Name !! Took office !! Left office
! No. !! Name !! Took office !! Left office
|-
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:coral;"| '''Director of State Environmental Protection Agency'''
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:coral;"| '''Director of State Environmental Protection Agency'''
|-
|-
| 1 || [[Qu Geping]] ({{ill|zh|曲格平}}) || 1987 || June 1993
| 1 || [[Qu Geping]] || 1987 || June 1993
|-
|-
| 2 || [[Xie Zhenhua]] || June 1993 || March 1998
| 2 || [[Xie Zhenhua (politician)|Xie Zhenhua]] || June 1993 || March 1998
|-
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:coral;"| '''Director of State Environmental Protection Administration'''
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:coral;"| '''Director of State Environmental Protection Administration'''
|-
|-
| {{small|(2)}} || [[Xie Zhenhua]] || March 1998 || December 2005
| {{small|(2)}} || [[Xie Zhenhua (politician)|Xie Zhenhua]] || March 1998 || December 2005
|-
|-
| 3 || [[Zhou Shengxian]] || December 2005 || March 2008
| 3 || [[Zhou Shengxian]] || December 2005 || March 2008
Line 182: Line 202:
| {{small|(3)}} || [[Zhou Shengxian]] || March 2008 || February 2015
| {{small|(3)}} || [[Zhou Shengxian]] || March 2008 || February 2015
|-
|-
| 4 || [[Chen Jining]] || February 2015 || Incumbent
| 4 || [[Chen Jining]] || February 2015 || June 2017
|-
| 5 || [[Li Ganjie]] || June 2017 || March 2018
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:coral;"| '''Minister of Ecology and Environment'''
|-
| {{small|(5)}} || [[Li Ganjie]] || March 2018 || April 2020
|-
| {{small|(6)}} || [[Huang Runqiu]] || April 2020 || Incumbent|-
|-
|}
|}


==See also==
== See also ==
{{Portal|China|Ecology|Environment}}
*[[Environment of China]]
* [[Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China]]
*[[China water crisis]]
* [[Organic Food Development Center]]
*[[Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China]]
* [[Environmental Protection Administration]] (Republic of China)
*[[Organic Food Development Center]]
*[[Ministries of China]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://english.mep.gov.cn/}} <small>''' {{en icon}} '''</small>
* {{Official website}}
* {{Official website|http://www.zhb.gov.cn/}} <small>'''(Chinese)'''</small>
*[http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/493--The-rich-consume-and-the-poor-suffer-the-pollution- Interview with Pan Yue]


{{Clear}}
{{State Council of the People's Republic of China}}
{{State Council of the People's Republic of China}}{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ministry Of Environmental Protection Of The People's Republic Of China}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ministry Of Environmental Protection Of The People's Republic Of China}}

Latest revision as of 05:50, 6 October 2024

Ministry of Ecology and Environment the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国生态环境部
Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Shengtai-Huánjìng Bù
Agency overview
FormedMarch 2008; 16 years ago (2008-03)
Preceding agency
  • State Environmental Protection Administration
TypeConstituent Department of the State Council (cabinet-level executive department)
JurisdictionGovernment of China
HeadquartersBeijing
Minister responsible
Deputy Ministers responsible
Agency executives
Parent agencyState Council
Websitewww.mee.gov.cn Edit this at Wikidata

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is an executive-department of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, responsible for the ecological and environmental affairs. It is the 15th-ranked department in the State Council.

The Ministry is the nation's environmental protection department charged with the task of protecting China's air, water, and land from pollution and contamination. Directly under the State Council, it is empowered and required by law to implement environmental policies and enforce environmental laws and regulations. Complementing its regulatory role, it funds and organizes research and development.

History

[edit]

In 1972, Chinese representatives attended the First United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Sweden. The next year, 1973, saw the establishment of the Environmental Protection Leadership Group. In 1983, the Chinese government announced that environmental protection would become a state policy. In 1998, China went through a disastrous year of serious flooding, and the Chinese government upgraded the Leading Group to a ministry-level agency, which then became the State Environmental Protection Administration.[citation needed]

In March 2008, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) was established, replacing the State Environmental Protection Administration.[citation needed]

During 2016–2017, the MEP temporarily shut down approximately 40% of all Chinese factories as part of an environmental protection campaign.[1]: 90 

Pollutant trading programs were administered under the MEP and local Environmental Protection Bureaus until 2018.[1]: 78 

In 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) was established,[2]: 95  replacing the MEP.[3] A number of environmental policy functions were merged from other ministries into the MEE, including climate policy previously under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and a number of environmental policy functions previously under the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Oceanic Administration.[2]: 95  Pollutant and carbon emissions trading programs, which had previously been under the MEP's jurisdiction, were also placed within the MEE's control.[1]: 78 

In 2019, the MEE established the BRI International Green Development Coalition as a joint project with the environmental agencies of twenty-five other countries.[4]: 60 

Role

[edit]

According to regulations concerning the Ministry, the MEE is responsible for protecting, regulating, and monitoring the environment, as well as enforcing environmental policies.[5] It is responsible for pollution control, conserving the ecosystem, formulating environmental standards, conducting environmental impact assessments, environmental protection inspections, addressing climate change, supervising emissions reduction targets, supervising nuclear safety, as well as international environmental cooperation.[5][6] It also has jurisdiction over China's nuclear safety agency.[7]

MEE regulates water quality, ambient air quality, solid waste, soil, noise, radioactivity. In the area of R&D activities, MEE's predecessor MEP has funded a series of "Key Laboratories" in different parts of the country, including: Laboratory for Urban Air Particles Pollution Prevention and Control for Environmental Protection, Laboratory on Environment and Health, Laboratory on Industrial Ecology, Laboratory on Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Recovery, and Laboratory on Biosafety.[8]

In addition, MEE also administers engineering and technical research centers related to environmental protection, including: Center for Non-ferrous Metal Industrial Pollution Control, Center for Clean Coal and Ecological Recovery of Mines, Center for Industrial Waste Water Pollution Control, Center for Industrial Flue Gas Control, Center for Hazardous Waste Treatment, and Center for Solid Waste Treatment and Disposal of Mines.[8]

China is experiencing an increase in environmental complaints: In 2005, there were 51,000 disputes over environmental pollution, according to SEPA minister Zhou Shengxian. From 2001 to 2005, Chinese environmental authorities received more than 2.53 million letters and 430,000 visits by 597,000 petitioners seeking environmental redress.[9]

Organization

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There are 12 offices and departments under MEE, all at the si (司) level in the government ranking system. They carry out regulatory tasks in different areas and make sure that the agency is functioning accordingly. The MEE is the administrative home of the ministerial-level Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs, China's top envoy on international climate change negotiations. The Special Envoy is supported by the MEE's Office of Climate Change Affairs, headed by a vice minister.[6]

Department structure

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Department Chinese Name
General Administrative Office (办公厅)
Department of Human Resources & Institutional Affairs (行政体制与人事司)
Department of Planning and Finance (规划与财务司)
Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations (政策法规司)
Department of Science & Technology and Standards (科技标准司)
Pollution Control Office (污染控制司)
Natural Ecosystem Protection Office (自然生态保护司)
Department of Environmental Impact Assessment (环境影响评价管理司)
International Cooperation Office (国际合作司)
Department of Nuclear Safety (核安全管理司)
Environmental Inspection Office (环境监察局)
Office of Agency & Party Affairs (机关党委)

Leadership

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Position Person Name
Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu
Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Sun Jinlong, Zhai Qing, Zhao Yingmin, Ye Min
Head of the Discipline Inspection & Supervision Group Dispatched From the CCDI & the NSC Kurexi Maihesuti

Regional centers

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In 2006, SEPA opened five regional centers to help with local inspections and enforcement. Today, the five centers are direct affiliates of MEE:[6]

Region Head Office Enforcement Area
Eastern Center Nanjing Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Shandong.
Southern Center Guangzhou Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.
Northwestern Center Xi'an Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Ningxia.
Southwestern Center Chengdu Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet.
Northeastern Center Shenyang Liaoning, Jining, and Heilongjiang.
MEE headquarters Beijing Beijing, Tianjing, Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia.

List of ministers

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No. Name Took office Left office
Director of State Environmental Protection Agency
1 Qu Geping 1987 June 1993
2 Xie Zhenhua June 1993 March 1998
Director of State Environmental Protection Administration
(2) Xie Zhenhua March 1998 December 2005
3 Zhou Shengxian December 2005 March 2008
Minister of Environmental Protection
(3) Zhou Shengxian March 2008 February 2015
4 Chen Jining February 2015 June 2017
5 Li Ganjie June 2017 March 2018
Minister of Ecology and Environment
(5) Li Ganjie March 2018 April 2020
(6) Huang Runqiu April 2020 -

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Ding, Iza (2020). "Pollution Emissions Trading in China". In Esarey, Ashley; Haddad, Mary Alice; Lewis, Joanna I.; Harrell, Stevan (eds.). Greening East Asia: The Rise of the Eco-Developmental State. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-74791-0. JSTOR j.ctv19rs1b2.
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Joanna I. (2023). Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-54482-5.
  3. ^ "华建敏：组建环境保护部加大环境保护力度_新闻中心_新浪网". Sina Corp. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
  4. ^ Shinn, David H.; Eisenman, Joshua (2023). China's Relations with Africa: a New Era of Strategic Engagement. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-21001-0.
  5. ^ a b "生态环境部职能配置、内设机构和人员编制规定" [Regulations on the functional configuration, internal structure and staffing of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment]. State Council of the People's Republic of China. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Decoding Chinese Politics". Asia Society. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  7. ^ [1] Archived 2007-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b [2] Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Environmental protection in China: the role of law | Alex Wang". China Dialogue. 5 February 2007. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
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