CHINA: An Introduction to Environment (PRC Firms)
中国环境法回顾：
Environmental Law in China in Review:
作为全球第二大经济体，中国的经济状况对环境法行业有着深远的影响.疫情结束之后，中国经济逐步恢复，在绿色转型中，产业结构逐步优化，污染治理、生态保护、应对气候变化等协同推进，为市场注入新的活力。环境法律服务市场出现以下几个方面的变化：
As the world's second-largest economy, China's economic conditions profoundly impact the field of environmental law. After the epidemic, China's economy gradually recovered. In the green transformation, industrial structures are optimised, and pollution control, ecological protection and climate change response achieved collective advancement, injecting vitality into the market. The environmental legal market has undergone changes in the following aspects:
1. 法律服务需求的增加：随着中国经济的快速发展，环境与发展的矛盾较为突出，政府、企业和个人对环境领域法律服务的需求也在不断增加，上市公司信息披露要求日趋严格，监管政策持续完善。这包括在政府环境决策、行政执法、重大生态环境工程项目、企业环境管理、企业清洁生产和环保产业等方面的法律咨询和纠纷解决。
1. Increased demand for legal services: With the rapid development of China's economy, the contradiction between the environment and development has become more prominent. The demand for environmental legal services from the government, enterprises and individuals has also increased. Information disclosure requirements for listed companies are becoming increasingly strict, and regulatory policies continue to improve. This includes legal consultation and dispute resolution in the government's environmental decision-making process, administrative law enforcement, major ecological and environmental engineering projects, corporate environmental management and the environmental protection industry.
2. 法律服务市场的竞争加剧：随着更多大型律师事务所进入环境领域法律服务市场，竞争更加激烈。同时，一些新兴的法律科技公司也正在涌现，对传统的法律服务模式带来了挑战。
2. Intensified competition in the legal services market: The entry of more large law firms into the environmental legal market has increased competition. Simultaneously, emerging legal technology companies are challenging the traditional legal service model.
3. 法律领域的改革和创新：为了适应社会发展的需要，中国政府正在积极推进环境法律法规的发展，这将为律师事务所提供更多的机会和挑战。
3. Reform and innovation in the legal field: To meet the needs of social development, China’s government is actively promoting the expansion and development of environmental laws and regulations, providing both opportunities and challenges for law firms.
中国的环境法领域自20世纪80年代以来得到了快速发展，成为了国家治理体系中不可或缺的一部分。现状方面，生态环境领域的相关法律有三十多件，还有100多件行政法规、1000多件地方性法规，“1+N+4” 的生态环保领域法律体系基本形成。“1” 是发挥基础性、综合性作用的环境保护法； “N” 是环境保护领域专门法律，包括针对传统环境领域大气、水、固体废物、土壤、噪声等方面的污染防治法律，针对生态环境领域海洋、湿地、草原、森林、沙漠等方面的保护治理法律等； “4” 是针对特殊地理、特定区域或流域的生态环境保护进行的立法，如《长江保护法》《黑土地保护法》《黄河保护法》以及《青藏高原生态保护法》。
The field of environmental law in China has witnessed rapid development since the 1980s, evolving into an indispensable component of the national governance system. Currently, there are more than thirty pertinent laws related to ecology and the environment, accompanied by over one hundred administrative regulations and in excess of 1,000 local regulations. The legal protection framework in the realm of ecological and environmental matters, known as the "1+N+4" model, has essentially taken shape. The "1" signifies the Environmental Protection Law, which assumes a fundamental and comprehensive role. The "N" encompasses specialised laws in environmental protection, addressing issues such as pollution prevention and control in traditional environmental domains like the atmosphere, water, solid waste, soil and noise. Additionally, it includes laws pertaining to ecological protection and management for oceans, wetlands, grasslands, forests and deserts. The "4" pertains to legislation targeting the ecological environmental protection of specific geographical regions, designated areas or river basins. Examples include the Yangtze River Protection Law, Black Soil Protection Law, Yellow River Protection Law and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Protection Law.
中国将持续推进环境法律框架制定进程，为自然资源和生态环境保护划定法治红线。《生态环境法典》编撰工作已经列入十四届全国人大常委会立法规划，正在加快推进。上述立法规划中，国家公园法、海洋环境保护法、国土空间规划法、能源法、矿产资源法、耕地保护法等法律的制修订已列入，其中海洋环境保护法的修订已经完成。
China is committed to advancing the process of developing the environmental legal framework and establishing legal red lines to safeguard natural resources and the ecological environment. The compilation of the Ecological and Environmental Code has been incorporated into the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee Legislative Plan and is undergoing accelerated promotion. Within this legislative plan, the development and modification of key laws such as the National Park Law, Marine Environmental Protection Law, Territorial Spatial Planning Law, Energy Law, Mineral Resources Law and Cultivated Land Protection Law are included. The revision of the Marine Environmental Protection Law has already been completed.
趋势方面，中国正在推动经济社会绿色低碳转型。自2021年启动全球覆盖温室气体规模最大的碳排放权交易市场以来，全国碳市场建设正在逐步完善。全国温室气体自愿减排交易市场也将准备启动。这将指引绿色低碳技术创新、引导绿色低碳资金、推动碳达峰碳中和，大大加快传统产业向智能化绿色化转型。
In the realm of trends, China is actively advocating for the green and low-carbon transformation of its economy and society. Since the initiation of the world's largest carbon emissions trading market, encompassing greenhouse gases in 2021, the development of the national carbon market has been steadily advancing. Furthermore, preparations for the launch of the national greenhouse gas voluntary emission reduction trading market are underway. This trend is poised to steer innovation in green and low-carbon technologies, direct investments into green and low-carbon funds, foster initiatives towards carbon peak and carbon neutrality and significantly expedite the intelligent and green transformation of traditional industries.
政府对于上市公司ESG信息披露的监管要求不断加强。2015年12月香港交易所要求上市公司发布ESG报告。在中国大陆，沪深交易所的《股票上市规则》，细化了上市公司社会责任报告披露范围；《上市公司投资者关系管理工作指引》将上市公司的ESG信息纳入与投资者的沟通内容；《提高央企控股上市公司质量工作方案》要求，争取所有国资控股的上市公司在2023年前实现ESG专项报告披露。
The government's regulatory requirements for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) information disclosure by listed companies are continuously being strengthened. In December 2015, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange mandated that listed companies release ESG reports. In mainland China, the “Rules Governing the Listing of Stocks of the Shanghai Stock Exchanges and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges” have refined the scope of disclosure for social responsibility reports of listed companies. The “Working Guidelines for the Relationship Between Listed Companies and Investors” incorporate ESG information of listed companies in their communications with investors. Moreover, the “Work Plan for Improving the Quality of Listed Companies Controlled by Central Enterprises” stipulates that all listed companies under state-owned asset control must disclose special ESG reports by 2023.
在环境法领域，中国企业正面临以下潜在的困难或挑战。社会全方位的监督体系逐步形成，执法监管更为严格，治理成本高，传统产业面临着巨大的转型压力。
In the field of environmental law, Chinese companies are encountering the following potential difficulties and challenges. A comprehensive social supervision system has gradually taken shape, legal enforcement and supervision have become more stringent, governance costs are high and traditional industries are facing substantial pressure for transformation.
建议传统产业进行绿色改造，落实节能减排措施，包括提高能源利用效率，减少废气、废水和固体废物排放，减少环境污染。同时，应形成符合国家环保法规和标准的新制度、操作流程和安全措施。建议传统产业进行绿色改造，落实节能减排措施。这包括提高能源效率，减少废气、废水和固体废物的排放，以减轻环境污染。同时，需要开发符合国家环保法规和标准的新系统、操作程序和安全措施。建立环境保护责任制度，明确管理责任，确保环境保护工作合规。
It is recommended that traditional industries carry out green transformation and implement energy conservation and emission-reduction measures, including improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions of waste gas, wastewater and solid wastes, to reduce environmental pollution. At the same time, new systems, operating procedures and safety measures that comply with national environmental protection regulations and standards should be formed. It is advisable for traditional industries to undertake a green transformation and implement energy conservation and emission reduction measures. This includes enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions of waste gas, wastewater and solid waste to mitigate environmental pollution. Simultaneously, there is a need to develop new systems, operating procedures and safety measures in alignment with national environmental protection regulations and standards. An environmental protection responsibility system, clarifying management responsibilities and compliance with ensuring environmental protection work, should also be established.