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An effective legal guarantee is badly needed to promote environmental protection, says a commentary in Beijing Youth Daily. An excerpt follows:

Shortly after Zhou Shengxian took office as head of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), a fresh round of environmental protection "windstorms" was launched nationwide.

It was soon followed by a guideline document issued by the State Council on adopting the concept of scientific development and strengthening environmental protection.

The SEPA "windstorm" is expected to work more effectively with support from the country's top administrative body.

The SEPA chief told the public through the media that the time of the most serious environmental pollution is upon us, and will continue for the next 15 years. It is high time the Chinese Government became more determined to solve the problem.

SEPA has been authorized to assess environment effects, draft standards on pollutant emissions, and hold relevant government officials accountable for violations. If all these measures can be put into practice, the momentum of environmental pollution would be effectively slowed.

While administrative measures become more and more binding, the legal system remains weak for environmental protection.

The revised 1997 Criminal Law defines serious sabotage of natural resources like water, land and forests as criminal activities and stipulates penalties. However, the legislation has not achieved expected results due to the lack of corresponding judicial explanations and local protectionism. Over the past eight years, only a few have been extended criminal punishments on the charge of serious environmental damage.

The latest "windstorm" from the country's top administrative and environment authorities has brought to people some hope for an improved environment. However, the loopholes in the law still make people worry about the prospects.

Only with a close combination of legal and administrative measures can environmental pollution be more effectively curbed.

(China Daily February 21, 2006)