Hua Wang Senior Environmental Economist The World Bank Promoting Public Access to Environmental Information in China: Practices and Challenges

Presentation Outline Overview of Public Access in China Three Programs –Industrial Performance Disclosure –Municipal Performance Disclosure –Community Environmental Dialogue Challenges

China Background Environmental quality – very bad Government – weak politic will and weak monitoring and enforcement efforts, especially at the local level Citizens – complaining against the government; conflicting with polluters Polluters - bad performers not enough punished; good performers not well recognized

Major Legislations Related to Environmental Information Disclosure Environmental Protection Law, 1989 Law of Environmental Impact Assessment, 2002 Law of Cleaner Production Promotion, 2002

State of Information Access Regional and Ambient Information Pollution at Industrial Facilities Environmental Impacts of Development Projects Environmental Accidents and Health Damages Environmental Regulations and Procedures Environmental Enforcement

Program #1: GreenWatch – Industrial Environmental Performance Rating and Disclosure (EPRD) Major Objective: Provide stronger incentives for industries to control pollution

Progress November 1998, initiating the effort in China 2000, Zhenjiang and Hohhot 2002, Provincial program in Jiangsu 2005, Cities in Anhui, Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Gansu, Chongqing, Guangdong, etc. Nationwide adoption: State Council’s decision and SEPA’s regulation

Performance rated into five colors A C D F B GREEN BLUE RED BLACK YELLOW

Performance ratings disclosed to the public Public Disclosure Cleans Up Industry

Performance Indicators Pollution discharge and emission Citizen complaint Pollution accident Environmental regulatory requirements ISO14000 and cleaner production practice

Performance Rating Procedure in Zhenjiang,China Comply with Concentration Stds? Hazardous wastes disposal =100% Pollution Accidents Comply with Load-based Stds? Illegal behaviors Utilization of solid wastes >80% Administrative Penalty Public complaints ISO14000 Comply with internal management requirement Cleaner production GreenBlackRedYellowBlue >60%? Administrative Penalty > 50,000 Serious Pollution Accidents Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N N N N N Y N

Performance Rating Procedure