东西问｜钭晓东：数字技术如何赋能环境权益保护？

Core Viewpoint - The integration of digital technology into environmental protection in China is not merely theoretical but has led to practical advancements in the field, enhancing the protection of environmental rights through various innovative approaches [3][10]. Group 1: Key Changes in Environmental Protection - Digital technology has transformed environmental protection methods, particularly through the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring network that quantifies environmental goals and enhances perception capabilities [5][6]. - The national ecological environment smart monitoring platform connects IoT monitoring points and remote sensing satellite data, enabling real-time monitoring of key indicators like air quality and water quality, thus addressing traditional monitoring issues [6][8]. - Digital platforms facilitate a collaborative network among government, enterprises, and the public, exemplified by the "Green Source Smart Governance" system in Zhejiang, which integrates various data sources for improved environmental law enforcement [7][10]. Group 2: Legal and Technical Support for Environmental Rights - Digital technology provides essential technical support for maintaining environmental rights, transforming abstract rights into data-backed evidence, thus enhancing the ability to seek remedies for environmental damages [8][10]. - The use of technologies such as drones and blockchain in environmental public interest litigation aids in establishing a robust evidence chain, significantly reducing the time required to recognize environmental damage [8][10]. Group 3: Risk Prediction and Governance - Digital technology assists in predicting environmental risks, aligning with the "prevention first" principle outlined in the Environmental Protection Law, and enabling actionable prevention strategies [8][10]. - The implementation of smart environmental projects in regions like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei showcases the use of advanced monitoring systems to enhance air quality forecasting and pollution source tracking [8][10]. Group 4: Legal Framework for Data Governance - The introduction of the "Ecological Environment Statistical Management Measures" by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in 2023 provides clearer guidelines for data management and protection, emphasizing the dual role of law in guiding and regulating technology [10][12]. - The concept of "digital environmental justice" emerges, addressing new power dynamics introduced by digital technologies, such as algorithmic decision-making and data control, which necessitate effective constraints to prevent exacerbating environmental injustices [12][13]. Group 5: Future Directions in Environmental Rights Protection - The integration of digital technology and ecological civilization is expected to shift governance from a human-centered approach to a human-machine collaborative model, fostering a new community for environmental rights [12][13]. - The protection model is evolving from static rights confirmation to dynamic benefits allocation, enhancing the transparency and traceability of environmental rights [12][13]. - The operational mechanism is transitioning from isolated actions to mutual engagement, promoting a virtuous cycle of digital technology empowerment, legal adaptation, and environmental rights protection [12][13].