China’s latest green plan is up and running, but doubts persist
Pollution permit system is officially launched, although authorities admit it still faces challenges
After years of debate, the mainland has launched a pollution permit system that authorities are hailing as a major overhaul of environmental governance.
Under the system, environmental protection bureaus will issue emission permits to factories detailing the types and amounts of pollutants they are allowed to discharge.
The move is aimed at improving overall environmental quality through a targeted approach to managing polluters.
The policy will come into force by the end of the year for coal-fired power plants and paper-making companies, and then expand in 2017 to 15 major industries that discharge air and water pollutants.
By 2020, all companies discharging pollutants will be covered, according to the schedule.
The country is facing mounting challenges from pollution, including thick smog over the capital over the weekend. Authorities say one problem is environmental management policies that are not aligned with real-world outcomes, since cities or regions are evaluated on the basis of the emissions they have reduced on paper – through calculations of energy or resource consumption – instead of actual improvements in environmental quality.
