Lessons from toxics use reduction in Massachusetts and prospects for their introduction to China.

摘要

During 1970s. the U.S. started to realize the negative influence of industrialized development, while at the same time, China started to accelerate its industrialization. During the 30 years of focusing on economics, severely damaging environment impacts were associated with high economic growth. This thesis strives to counter the prevailing view there is an irreconcilable conflict between economic growth and environmental protection, forcing an undesirable choice between economic growth and environmental protection. This thesis explores the successful example of combining economic growth and environmental protection supported by the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) in Massachusetts in the U.S. As an innovative law and policy, it reduced toxics use and releases in industries in MA effectively while at the same time avoiding impediments to business prosperity by promoting safer and cleaner production. I explored the background of the establishment, the mechanism of TURA, and the factors that result in its success. TURA has also been introduced to other states in the U.S. and in Canada, where TURA has not achieved the tremendous success, so it might be even harder to use TURA program in a totally different country in China. However, there are very advanced ideas in TURA that provide lessons and can be adapted in China.