Perface to the Third Edition

This book is the third edition of Environmental Law ，a book designed by the Ministry of Education as the tenth five-year plan national level college and university education textbook．

The book is composed of 11 chapters，presenting a systematic exposition of the general conceptions，basic principles，basic institutions and main contents of China's environmental protection and resources conservation laws．The General Introduction mainly expounds general knowledge and related concepts of the environment and environmental problems，subjects investigated in environmental law，and research techniques and methods for environmental law．In this part，the book also indicates the significance of researching environmental law as an interdisciplinary between the law and environmental science．In the General Theories of Environmental Law，this book explains the concept of environmental law，the relevant parties and subjects in environmental law and their mutual rights and duties，and the fundamental principles and basic institutions of environmental law．In the Specific Theories of Environmental Law，the book provides a detailed understanding to legislative background，main contents，and relevant theoretical basis of China's specific environmental pollution prevention and control laws，nature conservation laws，environmental tort remedies and crime sanctions，and other relevant laws，rules，regulations，and provisions，as well as explanation to the concept of international environmental law，the practices of international environmental law in China，and basic contents of major international environmental conventions and treaties．

The science of environmental law（as called，according to the classification of China's law science，the “environmental protection and resources conservation law”）is an emerging interdisciplinary field in law; therefore，on the basis of expounding basic conceptions，knowledge，and theories of environmental law，the book designedly establishes relevant case studies，tables，and columns to analyze and explain key and difficult issues in environmental law．The index annexed to this textbook may also provide the reader with convenient access to learn and understand environmental law．