The Second Annual General Meeting of Phase IV of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED 2008 AGM) was held in Beijing from 12-14 November 2008 with the theme of “Harmonious Development through Innovation”. This meeting occurred at a time of great turmoil in the world’s financial markets, with the threat of severe global recession, but also a call for “re-regulation.” This year is also a time of celebration of tremendous achievement in China—30 years after the Reform and Opening Up, and after the very successful Beijing Olympics.

These events, and also China’s remarkable efforts during the snowstorm and earthquake disasters, and in response to the melamine contamination and other public health incidents have focused our discussions on how environment and development can play a stronger role in China’s future harmonious relationships.

The 17^th Party Congress of the CPC specified that scientific development, Harmonious Society, and promoting an Ecological Civilization should guide China’s social values and progress. Now, a year after this historic meeting, there is growing evidence that transformative action is taking place towards building a resource conserving and environment friendly society in China.

It is particularly significant that progress is being made on the 11^th Five Year Plan program for energy conservation and pollution reduction, that China leads the world on achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals, and that many of China’s science and technology innovation goals are for sustainable development. Also, that necessary institutional strengthening including the formation of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) is taking place. CCICED applauds this evidence of domestic progress and also China’s expanding role on international environment and development.

Despite these praiseworthy efforts and achievements, China’s domestic program for environment and development still faces many challenges, and much corrective action before its full contribution to a Harmonious Society can be realized. The action taken at the 3^rd Plenary Session (October 2008) of the 17^th CPC Party Congress to reduce the imbalances between urban and rural development is an important opportunity where increased environmental efforts will lead a more harmonious society. The CCICED members are aware that public health problems induced directly or indirectly by pollution remain a serious factor for social advancement in China. This has been a priority area for CCICED research on harmonious development.

CCICED believes that an appropriate mix of incremental and transformative changes is needed to build a new relationship of environment and development in China and globally. It is fortunate that China is well positioned for carrying out these changes. Environmental progress should intensify over time, first through incremental improvements, and later by leaps and bounds, as the investments now being made in sustainable development innovation produce better technical solutions. CCICED has examined how environment and sustainable development innovations could be fast tracked, since it is unlikely that incremental change alone will satisfy China’s ambitious environmental targets and longer term needs.

Nowhere is this need for innovation greater than in addressing environment and energy relationships and the global need to address reductions in greenhouse gases. CCICED has started several task forces and other activities on these topics. While the main results will not be reported until the 2009 AGM, a few preliminary recommendations are provided in this document.

The global environmental situation continues to decline, with direct effects on China through trade, climate change and in other ways. The Beijing Olympics has created a level of awareness around the world of China’s environmental problems and its capacity to address them. How China chooses to go about its efforts to promote an Ecological Civilization at a global level is therefore a significant matter, with implications for trade, market supply chains, and action on pressing concerns such as climate change. But China’s domestic and international environment and development efforts could be threatened if the credit and financial crisis turns into a worse situation of recession.

　  The worsening global economic situation threatens social, economic and environmental progress of all nations, including China. This topic received special attention from both Chinese and international members. The CCICED AGM occurred just as China announced its substantial economic recovery package.  Therefore there was a substantive basis for considering how China can turn the economic crisis into an opportunity for strengthening economic growth.

　  In the period of global crisis ahead there will be many opportunities where China and a few other major developing countries have advantages not found in more established industrial economies. This is particularly the case for sunrise industries and for green products, which will become of increasing significance in the second decade of this new century. In fact there may be a historic shift in leadership on environment and sustainable development from Europe and North America towards Asia. Trade and investment will be drivers for this to happen. Real solutions for global sustainable development are now as likely to arise from action in China as they are from other parts of the world.

　  Council members appreciated the Chinese position that the global economic slowdown therefore must not be allowed to stand in the way of environmental progress. And that the economic stimulus package developed by China has incorporated environmental aspects. During this time of rebuilding the world’s financial system and new economic growth paths, China could benefit by positioning its investments towards activities that will allow it to shape the nature of future world growth, for example as a supplier of renewable energy products and services. These are examples of what CCICED’s Chairman, Vice Premier Li Keqiang, noted are actions that “promote development of the economy while taking good care of the earth that we share.”

At the 2008 AGM CCICED reviewed final recommendations from Task Forces on Innovation and an Environmentally Friendly Society, and on Environment and Health. In addition, the Council received interim reports with some recommendations from three energy and environment Task Forces that will submit final recommendations in 2009 (Pathway toward Low Carbon Economy, Economic Instruments for Energy Efficiency and Environment, Energy Efficiency and Urban Development). In addition, the CCICED Issues Paper prepared for the 2008 AGM identified a number of urgent challenges facing China, in part the result of the international economic and environmental situation. Our three key recommendation topics draw upon these reports as well as on the views of Council members.

The Council’s reports and discussions again underscore the need for effective implementation and enforcement of strong environmental legislation, greater use of credible economic instruments, and a more scientific approach to the development and dissemination of reliable environment and development information as means to build confidence and public trust in China’s environmental decision making. Of these points, the first and last deserve particular attention. Enforcement of regulations at a level that will change behavior is absolutely essential in order to foster innovative technologies and to improve environmental health conditions. But it is also vital to stress the need for public data that can be trusted by citizens and can become benchmarks for positive change via good standards.　　　　

RECOMMENDATION TOPICS

 1. Transform Challenges into Opportunities for Further Implementation of a Scientific Development Approach.

　  2008 will surely be viewed as an exceptional year for China because of the devastating natural disasters, international financial turbulence, food safety incidents, successful Olympic and Paralympics Games as well as the 30^th anniversary of the introduction of Reform and Opening Up. The year on the one hand gave rise to a number of new problems and challenges for China in the field of the environment and development, on the other hand, the great success and joy of the year left a precious legacy for China as well. As the year of 2008 draws to its end, it is now important for the Chinese government to face up to the problems and challenges, identify opportunities and potentials, review experiences and lessons, take positive actions and look into the future.

　  Therefore we recommend that China:

 (1) Seek Opportunities in the Wake of the Financial Crisis, and Advance “Sound and Rapid” Environment and Development Initiatives.

To find a remedy for the financial market and achieve stable economic growth are undoubtedly the top priorities for the world right now. However, we must remain alert to prevent the environment from becoming the next victim of the financial crisis, as may occur in some parts of the world. Once it becomes a trend to neglect environmental factors, the world’s sustainable development will take a significant step backward. Thus, China must work with unwavering determination to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency and fight climate change. The Chinese government has recognized the risk from the current crisis and has integrated environmental protection in the domestic stimulus package. It must now transform the challenges to opportunities for sound and rapid sustainable development.

The stimulus package should follow four principles with respect to environment and development. First, do no harm to the environment in the implementation of the package. Second, take a systems perspective that will identify positive relationships for environment and economy. Third, highlight labour-intensive activities operating at an appropriate scale to help poor people while protecting local environmental conditions, especially in the countryside. And, fourth, seek co-benefits, especially for improving health and ecological restoration, as a consequence of energy improvements, disaster relief and reconstruction, and pollution reduction.

It is recommended that the Chinese government should be fully aware of risks and opportunities, and take the following actions:

1) Strengthen supervision and environmental management in the execution of the domestic stimulus plan, so as to prevent regions from boosting economic growth at the expense of environment in their response to the financial crisis.

2) Consider not only environmental protection as one of the investment priorities of the stimulus package, but also carry out examination of supply chain environmental consequences and strengthen green procurement policies. These steps will boost the development of environmental protection industries and convey the strong determination of the government that environmental protection can be maintained even in the wake of the financial crisis

3) Take advantage of the opportunities arising from the financial crisis in order to advance transformation of the development mode for the domestic economy. This can be done by boosting the development of clean energy and technical innovation, low carbon economy and by strengthening capacities in the area of environmental protection and climate change in the remaining years of the 11^th Five Year Plan, and particularly during the 12th Five Year development period.

4) Advance energy price reform and further internalize environmental externalities with the plunge of oil and commodities prices. It is advisable for China to adopt a long term “escalator” approach to gradually raise energy prices. It means small, but periodic and predictable rises of prices or introduction of additional environment or energy taxes, with information transparency to fully prepare the general public and reduce possible resistance.

5) And for the longer-term, develop Low Carbon Economy.

The Chinese government should attach great importance to the development of Low Carbon Economy (LCE) and get prepared for action, particularly in terms of technology options and feasibility analysis. The development of a low carbon economy will benefit China both internally, in terms of addressing resources and environmental problems, and externally by contributing to the fight against climate change and raising international competitiveness. China should consider specifying low carbon economy related targets in the 12^th Five Year Plan for economic and social development, and incorporate low carbon economy in current strategies and actions.

 (2) Create a Better Mix of Government Regulation and Market-Based  Mechanisms, and between Factors Favouring Innovation and Those Favouring Stability.

The world financial crisis and the infant formula incident have shown that excessive reliance on market forces without effective regulation will create huge risks. In fact, market failures such as environmental externalities are often hard to control. The government thus should strengthen its supervision while adopting market-based instruments. China is at the initial stage of a socialist market economy where both market function and government regulation await improvement. Therefore the government should step up its supervision while giving full play to market-based instruments suitable for environmental protection.

Some of the most important market based approaches will require significant levels of capacity building for adequate management and supervision, including improved emissions monitoring, consolidation and standardizing of emissions data, designating a legal registry for emissions reductions, and enforcing non-compliance with much stiffer penalties.

It is important for the Chinese government to maintain the balance between innovation and stability. Stability is a prerequisite for a harmonious society while innovation often entails reform to avoid unreasonable benefit distribution. Imbalance between the two will give rise to conflicts. But if innovation helps encourage public engagement, promotes fairer benefit distribution and betterment of social welfare, it will help promote the development of a harmonious society. For instance, environmental innovation could help to optimize the relations between the environment and economy, resolve problems in the field of the environment and health, encourage wider public involvement, and give full play to the role of women in building a harmonious society.

 (3) Step up Infrastructure Construction and Quality for Optimized Development and Harmonious Society.

In the face of such natural disasters as the snow storm and earthquake in 2008, the foundation for optimized development and harmonious society has proved fairly weak. Such weakness can be found in the relevant mechanisms, urban development patterns, the layout and quality of infrastructure, social security and emergency response. The weaknesses demonstrate that it is urgent for China to shift its growth pattern from quantitative expansion to quality development, and to achieve harmony between people and nature. The infant formula incident served notice that corporate social responsibility should be further stressed. A massive and systematic program is needed to achieve a more balanced development among various social and economic aspects. The foundations for harmonious society should be strengthened, including the moral and cultural basis for scientific development. If environmental factors are built into this more advanced approach to development, the chances for sustainability will be enhanced.

 (4) Strengthen Rural Environmental Management and Help Improves Overall Environmental Protection of China.

The rural areas of China not only lag behind the cities in terms of economic and social development but also bear the brunt of environmental pollution and ecological damage. The countryside is thus a weak point in environmental protection and the building of a harmonious society. The central government of China is committed to the integrated development of urban and rural areas. In addition to the strategic goal of building a new socialist countryside, a comprehensive rural reform scheme was passed during the 3^rd Plenary Session of the 17^th Party Congress. Against this backdrop, China should create a bigger role for environmental protection as part of the overall strategic goal of building a new socialist countryside. The environmental priorities of rural areas should include greater attention to rural environmental management system and capacity building, environmental infrastructure, drinking water safety, soil contamination, indoor air quality management, and exploration of an integrated urban-rural environmental management mechanism and eco-compensation. The eco-compensation policies should be expanded to include climate change mitigation and adaptation needs, and damages cost by air pollution.  Efforts on these priorities will improve overall environmental protection throughout China.

 (5) Develop Innovative Environmental Management Systems and Mechanisms Based on the Successful Experiences of Green Olympic Games.

The successful Green Olympic Games has left China with valuable environmental legacies, including hardware such as demonstration projects, and infrastructure that help to improve the environment and serve the public, as well as software such as the concept of ecological civilization, improved environmental management, environmental information disclosure and wider public participation. All these may help to bring about deep changes in economic and social development patterns.

In its effort to host a Green Olympic Games, the Chinese government adopted successful measures to promote pollution prevention and control planning, environment friendly buildings and infrastructure, environmental information disclosure, public participation, commercialization of the innovation technologies employed in the Green Olympics, control of trans-boundary emissions through the establishment of a regional environmental management system, tail gas pollution control, the phase out of heavily polluting enterprises, etc. China should review these successful experiences and develop standardized and long-term mechanisms of environmental management to improve the environmental quality of Beijing and other parts of the country on a continuing basis.

The 2010 Shanghai Expo offers a new opportunity for the implementation of the “Green Olympics” experience, The Government of China should integrate more green measures in the planning and implementation of a “Better city; Better Life” Expo.

Also, China urgently needs to control transboundary emissions via regional environmental management systems operating on total emissions control, emissions trading and with appropriate institutions, such as coordinating groups comprised of the relevant provincial governors. The experience of the Olympics in reducing inflow of pollutants from provinces surrounding Beijing sets a remarkable precedent of cooperation that deserves to be emulated.

 (6) Review the Experiences of the Past Three Decades and Continuously Improve the Environmental Management System.

Over the past 30 years, China has tried to keep pace with the international community when dealing with the field of environment and development. In light of its realities, and drawing upon international experiences and expertise, China has developed its own approach with Chinese characteristics to address environmental problems and has made significant progress in creating its environmental management system and, in some locations, for improving environmental quality.

Three decades on, China is now in an important period for strategic transformation of its environment and development relationship. It is now necessary to systematically review the strategic ideas, theories, policies and managerial practices in the field of environmental protection over the past 30 years. Such a review will not only help to consolidate successes achieved so far and further improve the environmental management system of China, but also contribute to the international community by sharing the Chinese experience.

 The establishment of the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2008 was a major step forward for the Chinese environmental management system, and reflects the commitment of the Chinese government to historical transformation in the environmental field. However, we note that environmental management system reform, perhaps leading to a super environment ministry, likely will be a gradualist process. The next step should be further integration of environmental responsibilities of different ministries, which optimizes the central government organization and helps raise capacity and efficiency. For the new environmental ministry, current attention should be focused on capacity building and financial resources. Responsibility, power, capacity and efficiency should be integrated in this super ministry, which can put people first and better serve the general public.

 (7) Make New Contributions to Global Sustainable Development and the Building of a Harmonious World.

China and the world are mutually dependent. Given the large population and economic output as well as the important role of China in the global environment, the international community has higher expectations for China on issues like climate change and the financial crisis. China has made tremendous progress in development and now proposes concepts such as ecological civilization and harmonious society. These efforts should make the world more interested in China’s ideas and experiences.

Therefore, it is the right time for China to make a more substantive contribution towards global sustainable development and a harmonious world. Stabilizing the financial system, sustaining rapid economic growth and resolving environmental problems in China are in themselves great contributions to the world. Meanwhile, based upon the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, China should make new contributions to the global fight against climate change and sustainable development; and expand its existing environmental international cooperation into cooperation for sustainable development, with strengthened cooperation between China and other developing countries.

2. Introduce a National Action Plan or Program for Environmental Innovation, 2010-2020.

China’s complicated and unprecedented challenges as it works towards becoming an environmentally friendly society open the door to unprecedented innovation opportunities. Yet environmental innovation in China remains at a low level and lags behind innovations in other fields, and falls well short of the needs. There are several reasons for this situation:

·　　　  Pollution clean-up rather than pollution prevention still dominates, and the institutions and mechanisms under which environmental protection and economic growth reinforce each other are yet to be established.

·　　　  Incentives and enforcement action are still too weak and the command and control approaches still predominate. There is not a mechanism or policy system in place that encourages enterprises to invest spontaneously in environmental innovation.

·　　　  A disconnect exists between research on environmental science and technology and the commercialization of research achievements due to the absence of technological application research institutes and supporting coordinating mechanisms.

·　　　  Poorly developed technology and a limited system for collecting and publicizing environmental information accounts for low participation by the general public in environmental innovation and decision making.  

China identified innovation as a core national strategy and mapped out the National Innovation Strategy and the Mid-to-long-term Plan for Development of Science and Technology in China 2006-2020. While this strategy and plan can produce some of the necessary indigenous research and technological applications for key environmental problems, there is a need for a specific environmental innovation approach that can ensure the sustained and integrative effort necessary to fully capture benefits and opportunities.

Therefore we recommend that China:

Introduce a National Action Plan/Program for Environmental Innovation 2010-2020 for China. The action plan should define the strategic goals, targets, and measures of environmental innovation of China, and address technological, institutional, social and organizational aspects of innovation. The Action Plan/Program should be supported by key projects and increased investment, and consideration should be given to the following two points.

 (1) Strengthen Indigenous Innovation Capacity by Setting Up a Special Program for Clean Technology Innovation, National Research Centers for Environmental Innovation, Sectoral Industrial Environment Research Institutes, and a System of Cross-disciplinary Sustainability Innovation Laboratories.

A Special Program for Clean Technology Innovation needs to be introduced, and this Program could cover technologies relating to vehicle pollution treatment, clean coal, solar power, wind power, nuclear power, carbon sequestration, energy efficient building, ecological restoration, and clean production. This Special Program would introduce Clean Technology as a major research platform in the same way as other fields such as nanotechnology have been fostered. It should be developed at a level equivalent to China’s space program, with expectations that it will become an important part of China’s future economic growth and exports as well as a key component of better environmental protection.

The Government of China should collaborate with relevant parties and jointly establish a number of high-level National Research Centers for Environmental Innovation in universities and research institutes. These Centers will bridge the gap between basic research institutes and market needs, and help introduce, absorb and utilize foreign technology. They should link research-intensive industries and China’s most renowned research bodies to establish China as a major player for environmental innovation.

Common environmental problems within specific industrial sectors necessitate the establishment of research institutes for specific energy intensive and heavily polluting industries on a cooperative basis among the government, the industries and the industry associations.

Considering the ecological and environmental features of different regions in China, the State should collaborate with local governments, business and civil society to establish cross-disciplinary Sustainability Innovation Laboratories designed to demonstrate how to live at a high standard with minimum waste in rural and in urban settings. Their focus should be on practical demonstration of what can be done within the context of local social and economic circumstances and environmental conditions.

 (2) Adopt an Integrated Approach to Address Mechanisms, Institutions and Capacity Development Required for Full Application of Environmental Innovation.

The following needs must be met. First, in the field of environmental innovation, the environmental protection authorities should lead the coordination among relevant parties and give full play to the bridging role of industry associations connecting government and the industry. Stronger regulatory rules and standards, incentives and supportive policies should be introduced to help build up innovation capacities of the enterprises, especially small and medium sized enterprises.

Second, to foster a market for environmental products, several measures could be taken: tighten environmental enforcement in order to create a potential demand market; and, where appropriate and for a limited time, subsidize environmental products used by enterprises and consumers so as to foster dissemination and application of environmental technology. Also needed are more effective Green Public Procurement Regulations which require government agencies to procure a certain percentage of environment friendly products will be particularly helpful in creating a sizable market for environmental products; also, action should be taken to raise resource and energy prices to expand the demand for environmental products that increase use efficiency.

Third, to considerably increase financial support for environmental innovation activities, Environmental Innovation Funds should be established with a focus on a Special Program for Clean Technology, and other components important for enhancing indigenous environmental and sustainable development technology innovation. The State should devise a financial supporting plan for environmental innovation and adopt financial measures including venture capital investment, preferential listing policies, green credit, and preferential loans etc., to support environmental innovation activities.

Fourth, China needs to strengthen IPR protection and international environmental cooperation and establish an International Study Network on Environmental Technology to facilitate learning from abroad and through joint efforts.

Fifth, drawing upon the experiences of OECD countries, China should establish an evaluation system for environmental innovation, covering the whole process from R&D to commercialization as well as such aspects as environmental, safety, health and life cycle impacts.

 (3) Set Up an Improved National Information System for Environmental Quality, Environmental Pollution and Environmental Science and Technology Knowledge, with an Expanded Scope for Information Disclosure in order to Encourage Wider Public Involvement in Environmental Innovation Activities.　

　　 While China has made progress in environmental monitoring and public information disclosure, much work remains to be done before a full national environmental information system is in place and functioning well. This is a vital component for decision making of government, business, communities and the general public. The system must operate in a very transparent fashion, with regular reporting on key environmental problems and environmental performance. Knowledge access should be as direct as possible and at low cost so that people and institutions throughout China can access the information. Information needs to be packaged in ways that permit comparisons and easy understanding.

　  Improved information access will promote innovation in several ways: knowledge about environmental options will improve sustainable consumption, better public acceptance of new environmental technologies and environmental measures, place pressure on firms and local governments to improve environmental performance, and provide information helpful to environmental innovators, including SMEs.

3. Expedite the Establishment of a National Management System for Environment and Health.

China is faced with enormous challenges in the field of the environment and human health. First, a large number of its people are exposed to seriously polluted air, water and soil environment, which poses huge health risks. Second, because of the absence of systematic research, monitoring and statistics, there is not yet a clear picture of the full magnitude and range of public health risks posed by pollution. Hence it is extremely difficult to identify targeted measures to address the problem. Third, whether or not the economic growth pattern of China changes fundamentally within the near future, environmental pollution will remain a serious problem for a relatively long period of time, and this may give rise to more substantial health risks. Fourth, as the living standard increases, the general public will have higher expectations for a good and safe environment. Fifth, China has recently issued the National Action Plan for the Environment and Health 2007-2015, but concrete work under the action plan is yet to be carried out.

International experience illustrates that mishandling of environmental and health issues could generate complicated social and political problems that result in harm to public health, impaired government credibility, and heavy social and economic costs. China is currently in a critical period of building a harmonious society and consequently the issue of the environment and health should be given highest attention.

Therefore, we suggest:

On the basis of the National Action Plan for the Environment and Health 2007-2015, that the Government of China should accelerate the development of a national management system for the environment and health as well as an environmental management system based on “putting people first”. In order to achieve this goal, efforts should be made in the following six areas:

 (1) Stick to Prevention as the Main Approach and Take Effective Measures to Reduce Environmental and Health Risks.

A risk prevention system can be established by improving the environmental standards system, introducing a list of priority pollutants and enforcing stricter control of environmental access by harmful substances. The monitoring network for the environment and health should be strengthened, especially in the field of health impact monitoring relevant to human exposure. The government also should gradually set up an early warning system for environment and health, which will help to predict potential environmental and health risks, and will eradicate or reduce health damage by pollution.

(2) The Government Must Bear the Main Responsibility of Environmental and Health Issues. The Government Therefore Should Strengthen its Leadership in the Management System while Encouraging Extensive Public Participation.

Coordination mechanism between the relevant ministries should be strengthened.  This could be realized through establishment of a national environment and health administrative coordination mechanism that is under the leadership of the State Council with participation by different ministries.  It is also necessary to assess government performance to ensure laws and regulations are properly implemented. Based on their respective responsibilities, the environmental and health authorities should allocate sufficient staff and resources to establish specialized administrative system for managing environmental and health issues.

(3) Establish and Strengthen Legislation for Environment and Health based on the Polluter Pays Principle.

Legislation should address prevention, enforcement, and environmental rights of the Chinese public. A dispute settlement mechanism should be set up to help concerned parties to reach reconciliation over environmental and health disputes through mediation, administrative settlement, arbitration and litigation. The government also should gradually introduce a compensation system for human health damage by pollution so as to protect the environmental rights of the general public.

Improved coordination is needed between central and local authorities so that environmental health issues can be reported and assessed in a timely manner, with more effective action taken.

 (4) Increase Financial Investment in Capacity Building for Environmental and Health Management, Research, and Compensation.

The central and local governments should increase their financial support for capacity building and basic research in the field of the environment and health. An Environment and Health Fund could be established to help compensate victims of historical environmental problems, or when the responsible party has no civil compensation capability and when it is hard to identify who should be responsible. The Fund could help victims during their recovery and support education and communications activities. Multi-sourced funding should be sought.

 (5) Improve Disclosure and Access to Environmental and Health Information and Encourage Public Participation.

The government should make public environmental and health information available through accessible and comprehensible tools, such as government websites and the mass media. Prevention requires information on risks to be effective. The Government of China should launch a public access data base on pollutants and health risks. The government also should improve the public complaint mechanism and public announcement system, and create smooth channels for the public to participate in environmental and health management. Supervision by the general public, social organizations and the mass media should be strengthened and the reporting of environmental and health violations should be encouraged. Various kinds of hearings and consultation meetings should be held to hear the voices of the public and relevant stakeholders on environmental and health issues.

 (6) Undertake Targeted Intervention Measures to Address Prominent Problems in the Field of the Environment and Health

Where pollution has already caused harm to human health or induced diseases, action to reduce harm and risk needs to occur quickly, and health intervention or medical care should routinely be provided to the victims. For the pollutants proved potentially dangerous to human health, the government should issue a catalogue of such pollutants as well as relevant risk evaluation system, environmental access standards and identification criteria. Such pre-intervention measures and health impact monitoring will help eradicate or reduce health risks caused by pollution.  For other environmental factors with unclear health impact, China should step up research and adopt preventative measures.