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Environmental protection in economic downturn
Environmental issues are always on Wang Xi's mind. Along with pushing to improve government supervision of the environment, he is urging lawmakers to keep sustainable development in mind when dealing with the current financial crisis. Fixing the economy is important, but it can't be done at the sacrifice of environment.
A: The stimulus package that was recently announced, I think it’s 25% of the stimulus package is supposed to go to environmental protection, procedures, and initiatives. Can you explain to us a little bit about what that money will go to?
W: This is very good news for environment of China. As far as I know, most of this money will go to; a large proportion of this money will go to environmental infrastructure construction, such as sewage plant. One problem for the pollution like Tai Lake is that there is no enough sewage plant and the local government always says“we don’t have the money to do that.”Now the central government invests some money and also the local government has to patch with the central investment. So they have no excuse. They have also invested some money.
A: Is China under a spotlight at all still from the Olympics that so much was put into cleaning the air up in Beijing for the athletes and for the games, is that spotlight making more of an issue making it more important to get these things cleaned up?
W: Yes, the effort made by Beijing city to clean up the city sets a good example for other parts of China. Beijing city took the opportunity of the Olympic Game to invest a lot of money to improve the infrastructure related to environment and to move out many of the polluting industries out of city and to change the production technology and transportation and so on. This kind of experience will be very good for other parts of China, other cities like Shanghai. Shanghai is working on the 2010 World Expo, a lot of efforts made by city government.
A: Hopefully the financial implications in the long run could be a good driving force to give the government to act.
W: Now because China has accumulated much better economic strength than before and also because of the current economic crisis, the policy is to encourage the domestic market and also the government has earmarked big money for environmental protection construction. So it’s a good time for the legislature to make this change.
A: Do you think the economic downturn will make the situation worse or better in terms of getting legislation, tough legislation get passed?
W: For China, I think the crisis is another good thing. But this kind of change, it’s good because the economic crisis caused the government to further realize that environmental and energy problem or environmental resources problem is really a problem. For the long-term economic growth, we have to change and also at the crisis time people tend to be more serious than before about their jobs, their work and also the government has decided to invest a lot of money to environmental protection. So it makes the bad thing into good thing.
A: Into a good thing? Because a lot of people will argue that development should come first and environment is going to come second, but it’s not necessarily true, right? I would like to think you would say“Yes”.
W: I would say the best way for China is to develop and also environmental protection at the same time, so development makes change. Develop economy along the way of sustainable development. So develop and then gradually change. That’s the best way.
A: Any suggestions down the road, once we get past some of this economic crisis that we've been dealing with? Maybe some new initiatives should be looked at?
W: The current situation, I say environmental, I feel, although we are facing a serious environmental problem, but the current government policy is really in favor of environmental protections. So I feel very encouraged. I think now is the best time for environmental protection course in China.
Bottom line.. Experts say changing china's environmtal protection law needs to be a prority. Not only will it help clean up the air, land, and water.. It could help the government save money down the road by eliminating the need to clean up polluted and dangerous areas.. And pay for the damages they cause.