DENG Haifeng, 邓海峰, Law School, Tsinghua University
Paolo FARAH, West Virginia University (USA); gLAWcal

As global climate change and its adverse effects have caused serious consequences, the Chinese Government is speeding up on energy saving and emission reductions, becoming much more active on the climate and environment front. According to the work schedule of the Ministry of Finance, construction of the environmental protection tax system is one essential part of the forthcoming green tax reform in China. On the 10th June 2015, the Cabinet’s Legislative Affairs Office issued a Draft of Environmental Protection Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China for soliciting opinions and comments. This action received high attention and caused discussion both at home and abroad. The Draft EPT Law shows the trend of transforming pollution charges into tax, and starts a green reform in administrative management by means of financial tools. Though the law does not include carbon dioxide with taxable pollutants, it leaves space for future carbon taxation. With the increase of green reform in the future, carbon tax will no doubt be put on the priority list of the Chinese Government, at which point the Government will face many challenges. 

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