On Apr. 16, State Councilor and Secretary General of the State Council Xiao Jie presented at the inauguration ceremony of Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Xiao stressed that to establish the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee in light of the bigger picture of the causes of the Party and the State. It is imperative to act under the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implement the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, energetically promote ecological advances, constantly enhance the people’s senses of gain, of happiness, and of safety, and build a beautiful China with blue skies, green lands, and clean waters. Moreover, it is important to put up a good, tough fight against pollution, safeguard the national ecological security, and provide a strong support for securing a decisive victory in completing the building of a moderately prosperous society.

History of Ministry of Ecology and Environment:

In 1974, the Leading Team for Environmental Protection was officially established under the State Council.

In 1982, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and Environmental Protection was established, one of the internal departments of which was Environmental Protection Bureau. 

In 1984, the Environmental Protection Commission was established under the State Council, which operated through its office under the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and Environmental Protection (Environmental Protection Bureau, acting on behalf of the Ministry).

In 1984, the Environmental Protection Bureau under the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and Environmental Protection was reshuffled into National Environmental Protection Agency, which was still under the leadership of the Ministry.

In 1988, the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) (sub-ministerial level) was established as an independent affiliated institution under the State Council.

In 1998, the National Environmental Protection Agency was upgraded to State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) (ministerial level).

In 2008, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) was established.

In 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) was established.