Group 1 - The National People's Congress is reviewing a draft amendment to the Environmental Protection Tax Law, which will expand the scope of taxable volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to include all VOCs, as opposed to the current 18 types [1][2] - VOCs are significant contributors to air pollution, including PM2.5 and ozone, and the amendment aims to improve air quality and strengthen ecological protection [1][3] - The implementation will be gradual due to the complexity of monitoring and calculating emissions from various sources, with a pilot program to be initiated first [1][2] Group 2 - The amendment is part of a broader strategy initiated in 2021 to enhance VOC monitoring and taxation, reflecting an advancement in China's ecological civilization efforts [3] - Key industries contributing to VOC emissions include petrochemicals, chemical manufacturing, industrial coatings, and packaging, which will be targeted for transformation and cleaner production [3][4] - A study indicated that imposing a VOC environmental protection tax could significantly reduce emissions, although it may have negative impacts on residents' income, GDP, and total consumption [4] Group 3 - The revenue from environmental protection taxes has been increasing, with a reported 246 billion yuan in 2024, a 19.7% increase year-on-year, despite its small share of total tax revenue [5] - In the first seven months of 2025, environmental protection tax revenue reached 190 billion yuan, showing a 12.5% year-on-year growth [5]