News

On Mar. 27, 2013, Prof. Mark Poustie, Head of School Of Law, Professor of University of Strathclyde, came to SHUFE Law and gave the students a lecture titled “Enhancing  Environmental Regulation ”.

Prof. Mark firstly explained why the environment should be regulated by using a gray picture of Shanghai he took several days ago. Historically, government was used to applying direct regulation methods known as the Command and Control Regulation to environmental protection. Even though the command and control regulation has its advantages such as preventive approach, uniformity of standards with some degree of flexibility, and fairness and equity within business sectors, its disadvantages are becoming more and more obvious as the rapid development of society and economy.

The direct regulation is not sufficient enough for environmental protection. So economic instruments and voluntary mechanisms are gradually adopted by more and more countries. The whole world is facing serious environmental problems in recent years, but we have not yet found the most effective method or instrument to control the deterioration. Then Prof. Mark proposed key elements for successful system of environmental regulation.

In the question session, the students at live were very active and enthusiastic. “China environmental governance has struggled with enforcement, especially at local level. How to coordinate the central governance with the local governance? And is the centralization of environmental authority the right answer to China?” Prof. Mark showed the audience his point of view that the decentralization of authority is an international trend in environmental governance. Rather than centralization, establishing a vertical environmental governance system below the provincial level where the leaders are hired by national level is recommended”.

                                                                   (By Andy)