Public Participation in Environmental Protection
An eco-civilization needs the concerted effort and contribution of everyone, and it is to be shared by all. Orderly public participation in environmental protection also satisfies the public's expectation of a better eco-environment, and safeguards and realizes their rights and interests related to the environment.
In May 2014, the Ministry of Environmental Protection released its guidance on public participation in environmental protection. The document guaranteed that the public's rights to be informed, to participate, to be heard, and to oversee would be respected and protected. It emphasized public participation from the very beginning and throughout the whole process, and proposed the idea of building a system of extensive participation of the public.
The amended Law on Environmental Protection, which came into effect in January 2015, also contains stipulations about information release and public participation. According to the Methods of Public Participation in Environmental Protection, implemented in September 2015, public participation should be voluntary at public convenience and conducted in a lawful and orderly way, with provisions to better guarantee people's rights to be informed, to participate, to be heard, and to oversee.
环境保护公众参与
生态文明是人民群众共同参与、共同建设、共同享有的事业，美丽中国建设同每个人息息相关，离不开每一个人的努力。推动公众依法有序参与环境保护，是满足公众对良好生态环境的期待、维护和实现公众环境权益的重要途径。
2014年5月，环境保护部印发《关于推进环境保护公众参与的指导意见》，首次明确了尊重和保障公众的环境知情权、参与权、表达权和监督权，强调源头参与和全过程参与，并提出构建全民参与环境保护的社会行动体系，保障公众参与主体的广泛性。2015年1月正式实施的新修订的《中华人民共和国环境保护法》对信息公开和公众参与作出根本性规定。2015年9月正式施行的《环境保护公众参与办法》进一步明确了依法、有序、自愿、便利的公众参与原则，努力满足公众对生态环境保护的知情权、参与权、表达权和监督权，为环境保护公众参与提供了重要制度保障。