Annual Review of Chinese Environmental Law Developments: 2015

The year 2015 was the first year of implementing the revised Environmental Protection Law (EPL) of the People’s Republic of China. The Communist Party of China (CPC) issued several important policies on environmental protection, which have many implications for the implementation of the revised EPL and the future development of environmental law. In addition, 2015 was the last year of the 12th Five-Year Plan and the year immediately preceding the 13th Five- Year Plan. This Comment analyzes major policies adopted by the CPC and discusses the efforts of the legislature, administrative branches of the government, the procuratorate, and the courts, as well as implications for the future.