Officials to face lifelong ecological accountability

Chinese central authorities on Tuesday unveiled a guideline on holding Communist Party of China and government leaders accountable for ecological and environmental damages, with a clear emphasis on lifelong accountability.

The document, issued by the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, makes clear that accountability is not limited by time or position.

Where distorted views of governance performance, violations of the new development philosophy and the requirements for high-quality development, or other similar acts have caused serious ecological damage, the responsible persons shall be held strictly accountable, "regardless of whether they have been transferred to another post, reassigned, promoted, left office or retired", the guideline said.

The rule applies to leading members of local Party committees and governments at or above the county level, relevant departments of the central and State organs, and related institutions. It also refers similar cases involving township governments, public institutions, development zones and State-owned enterprises to the same framework.

In defining major accountability situations, the rule said local principal officials should be held responsible if they fail to carry out central decisions on ecological civilization, make decisions that breach laws or policies, or cross the red lines for environmental protection, minimum standards for environmental quality, and ceilings on resource utilization.

It also covered failures in promoting green transition, poor coordination in ecological protection and mishandling major pollution or ecological incidents.

For other local leaders, accountability may be triggered when they fail to supervise departments under their charge, tolerate violations, or mishandle environmental funds, it said.

For department leaders, examples include issuing rules that conflict with environmental laws or policies, greenlighting projects that fail to satisfy statutory requirements, failing to enforce inspection requirements, or ignoring public complaints and reports, according to the document.

The rule further specified that leaders who use their influence to obstruct environmental inspections, interfere in judicial handling of environmental cases, meddle in project approvals, or order the falsification of statistical, survey, assessment, monitoring or environmental impact data will be held accountable.

Accountability measures may include reminder talks, criticism and education, orders to make self-criticism and admonition; organizational adjustment and punishment; and disciplinary penalties.

Suspected criminal acts must be transferred to the relevant authorities for handling under the law, it noted.

Government bodies that are responsible for the supervision and administration of ecological and environmental protection must, upon discovering any circumstances warranting accountability as prescribed in these measures, conduct an investigation into the ecological and environmental damage in accordance with the law and within the scope of their duties, the guideline ruled.

It said, where the issues involve major ecological and environmental damage, or where complex problems cut across regions, watersheds, or departmental boundaries, the investigation may be escalated to a higher-level authority.

Disciplinary inspections, environmental and resource inspections and departure audits of natural resource assets may uncover major ecological damage or official negligence, it continued. Such cases must be referred to the disciplinary and supervisory authorities and the personnel departments under established procedures. Those bodies will then pursue accountability in line with regulations, discipline and the law.

The guideline shall take effect upon promulgation.

houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn