An opinion poll commissioned by the All-China Environmental Federation (ACEF) found that 97% of those polled believe government should take more account of public opinion in environmental decision-making, and that 95% believe spending on environmental protection should increase substantially.

Four million people were polled through newspapers, web portals and mobile phone text messages. The results were released at the end of July.

ACEF was established by the State Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in April 2005, becoming the latest of several national level ‘GONGOs’ to be sponsored by the agency. A China Environment Protection Foundation was created in 1993 with a USD 100,000 donation from then SEPA Director, Qu Geping, passing on the prize money he had received as a UN Environment Award in recognition of his work to establish an ‘Agenda 21’ for China. A China Environmental Culture Promotion Association, registered as a social organisation in 1993, is ostensibly devoted to promoting ‘environmental culture and art.’ It’s current President is SEPA Deputy Director, Pan Yue. A China Society for Environmental Sciences is also sponsored by SEPA.

The new organisation appears to differ from earlier SEPA affiliates in that, although dominated by government officials, it brings a wider range of officials under an environmental banner. A ‘board’ of no less than 300 people includes 106 senior officials (deputy heads of department and above), drawn not only from SEPA but from a range of other government agencies, including the Ministries of Water Conservation, Agriculture, Construction, Forestry, Mineral Resources and the Western Development Office.

ACEF describes its mission as being ‘policy lobbying’ and ‘protecting the public’s environmental rights.’ Deputy General Secretary, Wang Dongqing, is quoted by the China Philanthropy Times (Gongyi Shibao, 12/08/05) as saying that the Federation may in future serve as an umbrella group and official sponsoring agency for independent, ‘grassroots’ environmental NGOs.

In a further, apparent bid to strengthen public participation, ACEF has commissioned the China Youth Daily to create a ‘green pages’ section of the newspaper’s website, where environmental NGOs can post details of their work.

NY, August 15