China has industrialized and urbanized at unprecedented scale and speed since its economic take-off began in the 1980s. It has become the world's second largest economy, but pollution has pushed the environment to the limits of its carrying capacity. Chinese Environmental Law provides a comprehensive and structured analysis of the increasingly sophisticated Chinese environmental legal regime. It examines the regulation of pollution in detail, covering key environmental statutes, policies and plans, and investigates judicial innovation in the interpretation and application of environmental legal instruments. The book presents Chinese environmental law in action and in context. By discussing key institutions and processes, readers will understand the operation of the environmental law and policy, the dynamic interactions between state and non-state actors, and the special challenges to the implementation and enforcement of environmental law in the socio-economic and political context of China.

‘Professor Zhao's study offers a timely examination of China's environmental issues, and the legal and regulatory framework that has evolved in response to the environmental degradation accompanying China's rapid economic growth over the past few decades. The book is welcome and essential reading for all those interested in China's legal development in the post-Mao era, and all those concerned with the manner in which China is handling its serious environmental problems. Its detailed and comprehensive analysis is truly impressive, and the study will be highly significant in the years to come.'

Michael Palmer - Emeritus Professor, Centre for Asian Legal Studies, SOAS University of London

‘This superb book provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of Chinese environmental law. Professor Zhao masterfully guides the reader through the complex history and structure of environmental governance in China. The book thoroughly covers China's pollution control and environmental assessment laws and the processes for implementing and enforcing them. Anyone seeking to understand environmental law in the country with the greatest impact on the planet's health will benefit from reading this book.'

Robert V. Percival - Robert F. Stanton Professor of Law, University of Maryland

‘… this book is a terrific contribution to a growing body of research, and an essential resource for anyone interested in Chinese environmental law. It has organized a tremendous amount of material and will serve as the launching point for many new research projects to come.’

Alex Wang Source: The China Quarterly