The Environment and Climate Change
(Washington)— Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the Chair and Cochair respectively of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), held a hearing this week looking at the dominance of Chinese companies in the cobalt mining industry of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and how the exploitation of child and forced labor in this sector in the DRC impacts a global supply chain dependent on cobalt for a range of modern products.
The United States and China face myriad challenges related to the environment, from protecting air and water at home to global action to address climate change. As representatives of both governments meet in advance of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, this hearing will explore timely issues related to:
--China's climate commitments and compliance, reliance on coal, shift toward greater renewable energy production, and export of carbon-intensive energy sources through the Belt and Road Initiative.
The recent bird flu outbreak, reports of dead pigs and contaminated food products, and dangerous levels of air pollution, have raised concerns among both China's own citizens and American consumers about the Chinese government's ability to cope with these problems. To what extent has China been forthcoming to its citizens and the international community about incidents involving pollution, food and drug safety, and public health hazards? What is the extent of Chinese cooperation with U.S. officials and the international community on these issues?
Chinese officials reportedly have refused to disclose information on soil contamination surveyed during a four-year national project completed in 2010 on the grounds that the survey data is a "state secret" (Dong Zhengwei's Sina blog, 25 February 13) (Dong's blog). Dong Zhengwei, a Beijing-based environmental attorney, submitted a multi-question open government information (OGI) request to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) on January 30, 2013, (Dong's blog, 2 February 13). On February 20, 2013, the MEP responded to Dong's request by providing some of the information he applied for, but it did not provide soil pollution data from the survey, as that data was designated as a "state secret" (Dong's blog, February 25, PDF document).
On October 30, 2012, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) issued the Circular on Taking Steps To Strengthen Environmental Open Government Information Work (MEP circular), in order to implement the State Council Information Office 2012 Open Government Information Focal Points Work Plan (Work Plan), issued in April 2012. The Work Plan included environmental protection as one of the key areas targeted for advancement in information disclosure.
On December 5, 2012, the Longhua District People's Court in Haikou city, Hainan province, imposed a three-year suspended sentence and a 17,000 yuan (US$2,727) fine on Liu Futang, a retired forestry official and environmentalist, for allegedly engaging in "illegal business activities" (Chinadialogue, 5 December 12; Caixin journalist's blog entry, 11 October 12). Liu's sentencing came nearly two months after his trial on October 11 (Southern Weekend (SW), reprinted in Chinadialogue, 19 October 12).
The following text was retrieved from the Ministry of Environmental Protection Web site on December 10, 2012.