This book systematically covers the environmental law issues of China. It starts with the challenges to traditional law and the emergence of environmental law, introduces the basic issues of environmental law and calls for the restructuring of the law, proposes environmental rights and reviews the practice of environmental rights. Then, this book discusses international environmental law developments, the change of notions of Chinese environmental law and the restructuring of Chinese environmental regulatory tools. It points out the insufficiency of traditional private law and public law and proposes that innovation of private law and public law is needed to address environmental issues in China. It addresses issues of Chinese environmental law as well as issues of international environmental law.

This book pays attention to the special issues of Chinese environmental governance. Unlike many books introducing foreign environmental legislation into China, this book focuses on Chinese issues, Chinese environmental issues, and Chinese environmental law issues. This focus on the special issues of Chinese environmental governance makes it more revealing the real situations of China. From this book, readers may understand the history of Chinese environmental law as well as the future of Chinese environmental law, blackletter law, living law, achievements and insufficiency.

Zhongmei Lyu, Vice Chairperson of China Law Society and Chairperson of China Society of Environmental and Resources Law.

Prof. Lyu won the awards of China National Distinguished Young Jurists, Chinese Renowned Jurists, and many other awards. Prof. Lyu is a top scholar of environmental law in China. She authored a large number of books and articles on environmental law and also has rich experience in practical legislative, judicial, and law enforcement work. As to legislation work, she is a member of the National People’s Congress for about 20 years and currently serves as a Vice Director of the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee of the National People’s Congress. She actively participates in the drafting and deliberation of environmental legislation. She played a major role in the drafting of the Eco-Environmental Code of the People’s Republic of China, which was adopted by the National People’s Congress on March 12, 2026. She also played an active role in the drafting or revision of several other environmental laws, such as the 2014 revised Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, the 2020 Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Yangtze River.

As to judicial work, she was an associate justice of the Higher People’s Court of Hubei Province for five years.