新华视点丨生态环境法典2编草案五大看点

Core Viewpoint - The legislative process of the Ecological Environment Code has advanced, with the second draft of the pollution prevention section and legal responsibilities being submitted for review by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, addressing key social concerns and enhancing environmental protection measures [1]. Group 1: Air Pollution Prevention - The draft emphasizes addressing shortcomings in air pollution prevention, including stricter standards for volatile organic compounds and enhanced regulation of emissions from heavy-duty trucks and ships [2][3]. - The draft expands the definition of "organic solvents" to include "raw and auxiliary materials and products containing volatile organic compounds," thereby broadening the scope of regulation [3]. - It also strengthens the oversight of emissions from mobile sources, such as vehicles and ships, reflecting the changing landscape of air pollution sources [4]. Group 2: Water Pollution Prevention - The draft includes more detailed regulations for water pollution prevention, such as conducting assessments of groundwater conditions and enhancing pollution control for ships entering inland rivers [5][6]. - It establishes management requirements for groundwater pollution prevention and sets higher standards for wastewater discharge from inland vessels [6]. Group 3: Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution - The draft strengthens regulations on agricultural non-point source pollution, focusing on financial support, management of agricultural inputs, and disposal of agricultural waste [7][8]. - This reflects a shift in focus from point source pollution, which has seen significant improvements, to addressing the rising share of non-point source pollution in overall pollution levels [8]. Group 4: Principle of Proportionality in Penalties - The draft reinforces the principle of proportionality in penalties, optimizing fine regulations to avoid excessive penalties for minor infractions and insufficient penalties for serious violations [9][10]. - This adjustment aims to provide a more balanced approach to environmental enforcement, addressing concerns raised during the initial review of the Ecological Environment Code [10][11]. Group 5: Combating Fraudulent Practices - The draft imposes strict penalties for fraudulent practices in vehicle and ship emissions testing, as well as for falsifying monitoring data [12][13]. - It emphasizes the importance of accurate environmental monitoring data to ensure effective policy implementation and risk management [13].