International Law

Environmental Protection, Economic Growth and the Recession

By Stan

Environmentalists say they worry that the government has squandered a chance to use the downturn to put China on a cleaner growth path, and has instead laid the foundation for another toxic cycle of hypergrowth. (New York Times)

Good article in the NYT about a worrisome issue. Now that we are in the middle of a huge economic crisis (or the end of one, according to some optimists), measures have already been taken to fast-track investment, partly by relaxing environmental approval requirements — these are projects that may have significant environmental effects.

Perhaps an argument can be made that growth should be of paramount concern at the moment. Fair enough.

The plan under such circumstances is to relax certain environmental protection requirements temporarily during the crisis. Once the worst is over, things go back to normal.

Here’s the problem. It was quite difficult to get these measures enacted into law in the first place. Putting a moratorium on them gives opponents another chance to water down enforcement measures, repeal regulations, or extend the “time out” indefinitely.

Bad idea.

© Stan for China Hearsay, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us

Full post as published by China Hearsay on April 20, 2009 (boomark / email).