The Global Environmental Challenge of China

China's rapid development has come at a staggering cost to the environment. More than 1.2 million Chinese die each year from exposure to air pollution, which at times has been so bad as to shut down economic activity in major Chinese cities. As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China now has more impact on the health of the planet than any other country, giving everyone a stake in efforts to combat Chinese pollution. This lecture will explore why the enactment of extensive bodies of environmental law has not been enough to turn the tide in China and the prospects for overcoming this immense challenge to the world's environment. About the Lecturer: Robert V. Percival Robert F. Stanton Professor of Law, Director Environmental Law Program University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law