A high level international advisory organization to Chinese
government has submitted a report to the State Council, China's
cabinet, suggesting establishment of the Environmental Protection
Ministry in China.
China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and
Development (CCICED) suggested to elevate the State Environmental
Protection Administration (SEPA) to full cabinet rank in the
government.
The report is based on two-year investigation and research and
the experiences of developed countries, said CCICED.
The report said "China should establish a leading group on
national environmental issues chaired by the premier, with
membership comprised of the ministers of all relevant agencies and
the secretariat provided by the SEPA."
It also proposed China to reform the institutional status of the
SEPA to place new burdens upon it so as to enhance the
effectiveness of its policy, planning, and evaluation process.
Xue Lan, the leading researcher of the team who made the report,
said "although SEPA is already a ministerial-level department in
China, the elevation to ministry will increase authority of China's
environmental departments."
"If SEPA is elevated to a ministry, the environmental issues
will be given more attention in the major decisions of Chinese
government," said Xue, who is also a professor with Tsinghua
University.
The State Council first set up a leading group on environmental
protection in 1974, and the State Bureau of Environmental
Protection was established in 1984. In 1998, the bureau was
elevated to SEPA.
CCICED was established in 1992. Currently, the chairman of
CCICED is Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan. The mandate of CCICED is to put
forth policy recommendations and carry out policy and project
demonstrations on major and urgent issues in the field of
environment and development in China.
Members of CCICED include ministers and vice ministers from the
relevant ministries of the State Council, well-known experts and
professors in the field of environment and development in and
abroad, as well as ministers from other countries and the leaders
of international organizations.
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2006)
