China Environmental and Resource Law Review (Volume 1)

Author: Xu Xiangmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: In the garden of law, a new sprout—the journal of the China Society of Environmental and Resources Law, China Environmental and Resources Law Review (hereinafter referred to as Review)—is about to break through the fertile soil and stretch its tender leaves, embracing the warm baptism of sunlight after more than a year of nurturing. This is a sacred moment. Because at this moment, a new life officially declares its birth; because the new life of law born at this moment proves that the land in the garden of law is fertile and meticulously cultivated; because the tender leaves of this new life initially unfurl an era, an era adapted to the "environmental era," a legal era; because its declaration expresses the desire for sunshine and rain from law, economics, political science, management, sociology, ethics, and philosophy.
The environment represents a new era, an era neither eagerly awaited nor preventable by humans, an era in which nature cannot help but reveal its untamed aspects to humanity, thereby limiting human activities and shaping social lifestyles. Review is born in this era and is defined by it. It will walk alongside the development and changes of this era. Innovation is the demand of the environmental era and also the task assigned to Review by this era. Modern environmental law, though less than half a century old, has already undergone two transformations—from pollution and hazard prevention to source control, and then from source control and whole-process prevention to establishing a circular economy society. Without innovation, there is no way to adapt. Environmental law can only keep pace with the rhythm of changing times through continuous innovation. Review will be committed to introducing new achievements and promoting the creation of new ones.
Debate is both an academic pursuit and the embodiment of Review's life. Only by delving deep into the truth can we bring forth new insights, and only by debating can we make the truth clear. "A hundred flowers in bloom" brings endless vitality to the academic garden. Environmental law appears naive because it is "not yet deeply engaged with the world," but precisely because its branches are tender and its leaves fresh does it brim with vitality and dynamism. Review will embody the vigorous vitality of environmental law through its academic style of debate and discussion.
Enlightening minds is the aspiration of social sciences and also the level Review aspires to reach. Academic journals of social sciences are stages for publishing research findings, but this stage should not be the end of academic research—at least not the only end. It should be a spark that ignites academic interest, a flame that fuels academic passion, and a starting point for new academic explorations. The enlightenment Review seeks also carries the meaning of "pioneering a path"—the effort to turn someone's "steps" into a "path."
Review wishes to be a small tree because it admires how Christmas trees are always adorned with colorful decorations by those who love life. Like a pine tree leaving a new ring each year, Review publishes one volume annually. It hopes to be carved, decorated, and dressed up by more people who care about the environment and environmental and resources law, just as a Christmas tree is.
Review wishes to be a small bridge because it knows that bridges connect joy, friendship, and harvest. Review will connect the inside and outside of disciplines—communication between environmental law and other disciplines will spark more intellectual sparks; it will connect the inside and outside of academia—collaboration between academia and practice will produce complementary effects; it will connect China and the world—dialogue between Chinese and foreign academia in the same field aligns perfectly with the need to solve humanity's common environmental challenges.