China tackles environment issues through legislation

BEIJING - A number of environmental laws, adopted in the past five years, have helped China to follow a sustainable growth pattern, said Wu Bangguo, the country's top legislator, here Friday.

In response to severe environmental challenges, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee enacted the Law on Promoting the Circular Economy and revised several important environmental laws such as the Law on Renewable Energy, the Law on Water and Soil Conservation, and the Law on Promoting Clean Production, Wu said when delivering the work report of the 11th NPC Standing Committee at the first session of the 12th NPC.

Lawmakers also deliberated reports on environmental protection, prevention and control of water pollution, as well as management of land and mineral resources, he said when reviewing the work over the past five years.

They checked the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, the Law on Promoting Clean Production and the Energy Conservation Law, according to Wu.

The work of national lawmakers have helped promote green, circular and low-carbon development and socialist ecological progress by legislative means, he said.

Lawmakers also engaged in the work to cope with climate change. The NPC Standing Committee adopted a resolution, which further defined China's guidelines, basic principles and required measures of actively addressing climate change.

The resolution not only stressed the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" but also pledged to actively cope with global climate change with the international community, Wu said.