The National Committee, in partnership with the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (CLAPV) at China University of Political Science and Law, sponsored a two-way exchange for environmental law professionals in China and the United States. The program, funded by a grant from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, was a capacity-building opportunity for young environmental lawyers, government officials, NGO representatives, and other environmental law professionals.
The program for American participants included the following components:
Study Tour: November 4-18, 2011 A delegation of eight American environmental lawyers visited China for a two-week study visit to Beijing, Guizhou, and Wuhan. During the study visit, participants met with environmental lawyers, government officials, NGO representatives, judges, and scholars to learn more about environmental law in China. Among other highlights, the delegation visited the environmental court in Qingzhen, toured a paper mill that had been closed in a landmark environmental law case, and participated in a panel discussion with Chinese law students at Wuhan University. The study visit concluded with a conference in Beijing attended by the American delegation members, the Chinese delegation members, and their colleagues.
Fellowship Program: November 18-December 18, 2011 At the conclusion of the study visit, two of the eight American participants remained in China for four-week fellowships at the Beijing offices of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the American Bar Association. The fellowship participants gave presentations to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, attended academic conferences, and wrote reports on Chinese environmental law cases.
The earlier program for Chinese participants included similar components:
Study Tour: May 31-June 12, 2011 A delegation of eleven Chinese professionals came to the United States for a two-week study visit that included the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. During the study visit, participants met with environmental lawyers, government officials, NGO representatives, judges, and scholars to learn more about environmental law in the United States.
Fellowship and Academic Program: June 13-July 17, 2011 At the conclusion of their study visit, five of the eleven Chinese participants remained in the United States for a three-day intensive academic introduction to American environmental law at University of Maryland followed by four-week fellowships with NGOs, private law firms, and university law clinics. During the fellowship period, participants worked alongside American colleagues to gain practical experience in the field of environmental law. Participants came together twice during the fellowship period for a day of programming and reflection in New York and Philadelphia.
Delegation Members
Ms. BO Xiaobo (薄晓波)
Ph.D. Candidate
China University of Political Science and Law
Beijing
Mr. CAI Ming (蔡明)
Judge/ Head of Environmental Court
People’s Environmental Court
Qingzhen, Guizhou
Mr. DAI Renhui (戴仁辉)
Partner
Beijing Huanzhu Law Firm
Ms. HU Wei (胡玮)
Attorney
Shanghai Debund Law Office
Mr. HU Yulai (胡玉来)
Lawyer
Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm
Mr. LIU Piqi (刘丕岐)
Partner
Shandong Shuntian Law Firm
Jinan, Shandong
Ms. LIU Xiaoying (刘晓颖)
Lawyer/Research Fellow
Beijing Children’s Legal Aid and Research Center
Mr. MA Yong (马勇)
Director
Department of Inspection and Litigation
Environmental Legal Services Center of the All-China Environmental Federation
Beijing
Dr. QIN Tianbao (秦天宝)
Professor
Research Institute of Environmental Law
Wuhan University
Mr. QIN Xudong(秦旭东)
Reporter/Editor
Caixin Media
Beijing
Mr. ZHENG Shihong (郑世红)
Lawyer
Guizhou Tianyi Zhihe Law Firm
Guiyang, Guizhou
Ms. Megan Ceronsky
Attorney
Domestic Climate and Air legal team
Environmental Defense Fund
Washington, D.C.
Ms. Ilona Coyle
Visiting Attorney
Environmental Law Institute
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Daniel Greene
Senior Counsel
Environmental Law Division
New York City Law Department
Mr. Bart Lounsbury
Associate
Rossmann and Moore
San Francisco
Mr. Gil Rogers
Senior Attorney
Southern Environmental Law Center
Atlanta
Mr. Will Rostov
Staff Attorney
Earthjustice (California office)
Oakland
Ms. Jessica Scott
Attorney
Office of General Counsel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC
Mr. Ethan Strell
Associate
Environmental Practice Group
Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP
New York