[Academic Forum] The Research Institute of Environmental Law of Wuhan University Holds the 40th Anniversary Commemorative Event

On September 25, 2021, "The 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Research Institute of Environmental Law of Wuhan University and the High-end Forum of Chinese Environmental Law (Science) Facing the New Era" was held at Wuhan University.

On October 12, 1981, the Research Institute of Environmental Law was formally established. It was the first institution in the Asia-Pacific region that specialized in the teaching and research of environmental and resource protection law. In 1985, the former National Environmental Protection Agency began to build an environmental law institute with Wuhan University. It was evaluated twice as the only national key discipline in China's environmental law disciplines in 2002 and 2007 respectively.

After 40 years of development, the Research Institute of Environmental Law of Wuhan University (hereinafter referred to as the Institute) has gradually become a world-class theoretical research and innovation base of environmental law as well as an education and training base of environmental law. Fruitful results have been achieved in talent cultivation, scientific research, advisory services, academic exchanges and information materials development.

It is learnt that in the past 40 years, the Institute has participated in the investigation, drafting, and demonstration of almost all national environmental laws and more than 100 national administrative regulations and local regulations, and submitted more than 1,000 copies of consulting report to government agencies and departments at all levels. It also closely tracks the development of international environmental law and provides reference opinions and reference materials for China's environmental diplomacy, environmental cooperation and the implementation of environmental treaties. Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said that the Institute has a very good influence in the international arena. In her more than 20 years of international environmental legal practice, she “always sees and hears the voice of the environmental legal person of Wuhan University."