After decades of unprecedented environmental degradation, China’s leaders have begun to address the severe costs of rapid development. Fears related to food, energy and resource security, as well as the looming threat of social unrest among the middle class, have led to a rapidly changing landscape in environmental laws, regulations and standards.

It is imperative for multinational businesses to understand the impact of China’s environmental law on their work, and ensure that they remain compliant with changing requirements.

Our panel of speakers will discuss recent changes and trends in environmental law and what they mean for Bay Area businesses, including:

• How China's environmental regulatory and legal frameworks are structured
• How environmental regulations are changing
• The development of Chinese “watch dog” groups and their increasing interactions with multinational businesses; and
• The potential risks and liabilities of non-compliance.

Moderator: Ginny Fang, Executive Director, ChinaSF

Panelists:

• Alex Wang, Visiting Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley Boalt School of Law; former director, China Environmental Law Project at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Charlie McElwee, Author of Environmental Law in China: Managing Risk and Ensuring Compliance (March 2011); Climate Policy Program Officer, ClimateWorks Foundation
• Kristen Durham, Global Gateway Director, SVB Financial Group
• Ryan Schuchard, Climate & Energy Manager, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)

Co-sponsored by chinadialogue.net, Business Council on Climate Change, and K&L Gates