The System of Environmental Information Release
This system requires the government, enterprises and other social entities to make public their actions related to the environment, so that the public can participate in and guarantee protection.
China began to implement its first document on environmental information release in May 2008. This provided regulations for information release by environmental departments and enterprises, ensured the rights of citizens, legal persons and other organizations to access environmental information, and offered legal support for public participation in environmental protection.
In addition to information about the environmental quality, government departments and enterprises are also required to make public their environmental actions, so that the public can be aware of, participate in, and supervise such actions. This will ensure their right to be informed, and encourage all sectors to participate in environmental protection and thus ensure government departments perform their lawful responsibilities for better environmental governance.
环境信息公开制度
环境信息公开制度，即依据和尊重公众知情权，政府和企业以及其他社会行为主体向公众通报和公开各自的环境行为以利于公众参与和监督。2008年5月开始施行的《环境信息公开办法（试行）》是中国首部关于环境信息公开制度的部门规章制度，为推进和规范环保部门以及企业公开环境信息，维护公民、法人和其他组织获取环境信息的权益，推动公众参与环境保护提供了法律法规依据。
这一制度既要求公开环境质量信息，也要求公开政府和企业的环境行为，为公众了解、参与、监督环保工作提供前提条件，有利于保障公民环境知情权，促进社会各方参与环境保护，监督政府履行法定义务，实现良好环境治理。