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Why Is China Appointing Judges to Combat Climate Change? | James K. Thornton | TED Countdown

Why is China appointing thousands of judges to environmental courts and training prosecutors to bring cases to them, even if it means suing the government? Eco-lawyer James Thornton takes us inside the country’s growing effort to use the power of the courts to address environmental problems — a little-known story that indicates China could become…

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Why is China appointing thousands of judges to environmental courts and training prosecutors to bring cases to them, even if it means suing the government? Eco-lawyer James Thornton takes us inside the country’s growing effort to use the power of the courts to address environmental problems — a little-known story that indicates China could become a champion of legal action on climate.

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69 Comments

69 Comments

  1. Mike Giet

    March 17, 2022 at 7:57 pm

    yeah right, meantime they are the biggest importer of wood from all over the world and killing the ocean life

  2. My Sweet farm

    March 17, 2022 at 8:13 pm

    Goood

  3. Venom Snake

    March 17, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    That’s amazing. The Chinese are more than happy to learn from an outsider Westerner. This includes the highest and most prestigious Judges in China.

    Ethnicity or origins is irrelevant. They value genuine skills and expertise no matter who has them. They’ll gladly work with Americans, British or whomever it takes to improve their country. No dogma or pride present.

    • auyemra

      March 17, 2022 at 8:36 pm

      what about religion?

    • Jason Shen

      March 17, 2022 at 9:08 pm

      @auyemra what religion states that one must specifically hate the chinese

    • Jay Marx

      March 17, 2022 at 10:48 pm

      @auyemra there are many studies in colleges about religions, and you can practice them too, almost every city has it’s own temples, mosques and churches you can go. But it’s 100% not allowed to have any influence in politics for sure. To them It’s hard to draw the line and to avoid a divisive society when religion involved in politics.

    • Belly Button

      March 17, 2022 at 11:56 pm

      @auyemra You can pray to whatever God you want so long you don’t create problems and instill hatred within the communities.

    • A M

      March 18, 2022 at 12:18 am

      That’s because they’re set on eventually TAKING OVER. This is what has happened the last 500 years whenever a rising nation first learns from, and then REPLACES an old superpower.

  4. Venom Snake

    March 17, 2022 at 8:29 pm

    This man is pretty cool for working with anyone that will help combat climate change. A good cause. If Washington or London isn’t interested, then he’s more than happy to help China to help reduce emissions in a 1 billion population nation. And maybe just maybe, Chinese climate response could pressure this man’s own home countries into taking climate action.

    (Similar to how Soviet Educational investments led to the US ramping up its own education programs in the 1960s)

  5. Juyin Huang

    March 17, 2022 at 8:37 pm

    Thank you for sharing your experience!

    Learning from the others is the key to tackle one’s own problem. Stones on other mountains are so hard that jade can be polished (他山之石可以攻玉). It is a metaphor that skills and talents of other countries can be imported to serve China.

  6. Gaasuba Meskhenet

    March 17, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    It’s hard to feel the progress we’re making when your life is going to h ell. No more evictions from primary residences!

  7. SLM

    March 17, 2022 at 9:53 pm

    Is this a joke?

  8. Sittininthesun

    March 17, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    China is a communist country that oppresses its own people.

    Why on EARTH is TED seeking to mimic them?!?

  9. patricia longo

    March 17, 2022 at 10:08 pm

    Joe Manchin already said we can’t include environmental goals in our country.

  10. Sena Kılıç

    March 17, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    Türkçe çevirisi var mı?

  11. Tom Nook

    March 17, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    China is 42nd in carbon emissions per capita. Behind USA… behind even Taiwan, South Korea, Japan. Beware the assumptions and the media coverage.

  12. Alec Holland

    March 17, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    This gives me hope.

    • Blair Cox

      March 18, 2022 at 12:58 am

      Yes, but why a dozen people in the audience for his talk?

    • Nancy Ouverson

      March 18, 2022 at 1:00 am

      Me too

  13. Tom Nook

    March 17, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    One thing you cannot deny with China – if they set a goal, they’re gonna knuckle down hard to achieve it.

  14. Badger

    March 17, 2022 at 11:05 pm

    Stop the stupid wars and let’s focus on what really matters.

  15. ✿Shahrezad Nor💜 Mohammadiy

    March 17, 2022 at 11:18 pm

    إن خوض الحروب أسهل من إنهائها،

    كما أن توجيه اللوم للآخرين أسهل من أن ننظر إلى ما يدور في أعماقنا،

    كما أن ملاحظة الجوانب التي نختلف فيها مع الآخرين أسهل من العثور على الجوانب المشتركة بيننا،

    ولكل دين من الأديان قاعدة جوهرية تدعونا لأن نعامل الناس مثلما نريد منهم أن يعاملونا،

    وتعلو هذه الحقيقة على البلدان والشعوب وهي عقيدة ليست بجديدة، كما أنها ليست عقيدة السود أو البيض أو السمر، وليست عقيدة مسيحية أو مسلمة أو يهودية،

    هي عقيدة الإيمان الذي بدأت نبضاتها في مهد الحضارة والتي ما زالت تنبض اليوم في قلوب آلاف الملايين من البشر،

    هي الإيمان بالآخرين، الإيمان الذي أتى بي إلى هنااليوم.
    ——————————
    TED | ‘تيبد ‘
    ——————————

    أنقذ كوكبنا 🌎🌏🌍
    شكرا لكم والسلام عليكم.

    ###

  16. Belly Button

    March 17, 2022 at 11:58 pm

    You only hear bad things about China, never the good. This is refreshing.

  17. A M

    March 18, 2022 at 12:16 am

    This is great, but you DO realize this eager learning and imitation of advanced nations is part of the EXACT cycle of how rising nations replace old superpowers right? Rapid legal progress and modernization is simply China’s next step in overtaking the U.S. as the world‘s leading superpower. Americans better stop being fat and complacent and get hungry again real quick for genuine progress or it won’t be long before we’re left in the dust. China keeps taking giant leaps forward while we stay bogged down with idiot puppets like Trump and Biden, and unchecked Congressional corruption as personified by people like Pelosi. This broken political system that keeps fossils like them in power, broken healthcare system, broken tax system, broken education, broken national fiscal policy…. It’s all guaranteeing our decline and China’s eventual global domination.

  18. U Unknown

    March 18, 2022 at 12:28 am

    There must me money in environment matters. Otherwise Chinese wouldn’t bother.

  19. Adam Balogh

    March 18, 2022 at 12:43 am

    China cares about the environment.
    What a load of bullshit.
    Sounds like propaganda

  20. Zachary Davis

    March 18, 2022 at 12:51 am

    Man this guys great, he should work with the Uyghurs next 🙏🏾

    • Zachary Davis

      March 18, 2022 at 12:59 am

      *actually we could use some these ideas for ourselves 🇺🇸in potentially different areas in our systems 🧐

  21. ointment9

    March 18, 2022 at 1:06 am

    China is the biggest polluter in the world. Would any of this change that fact ?

  22. Guy 1

    March 18, 2022 at 1:07 am

    WOW! A seed of hope in today’s uncertain climate, coming from China. They might just lead the way to a cleaner planet…

  23. at7able

    March 18, 2022 at 3:32 am

    The Chinese dictatorship has a lot of propaganda and externalities but a few of real facts

  24. Steve Shaw

    March 18, 2022 at 4:00 am

    Global warming has nothing to do with auto exhaust or emissions. There has been a substantial rise in volcanic activity over the last hundred years especially in the oceans. This has increased the temperature of the land, the sea, and the air. The earth’s climate is most likely changing back to what it was 2,000 years ago when it was much warmer. When the Romans were in Britain (40BC-380AD) they were able to cultivate citrus fruit in the north because it was so hot.

  25. Nandan Tavkar

    March 18, 2022 at 4:18 am

    Absolutely Inspiring, James K Thornton ! Resolute steps in the right direction !!!

  26. Mickael Mc

    March 18, 2022 at 5:15 am

    Maybe I’m just cynical, but how can we be sure that this whole story China gave him was just stories to make us think otherwise? 🤔 It wouldn’t be the first time, or the 100,000th for that matter.

    • tenchichrono

      March 18, 2022 at 6:01 am

      You’re cynical because you’ve never been to China nor have you worked with the Chinese government or its people. Your experiences are based off of MSM.

    • Rosie S.

      March 18, 2022 at 8:46 am

      Sometimes, you need to travel to places and meet the people on the ground to evaluate the situation. Investing in getting to know the other side is a good thing and with it comes an understanding.

  27. Blake Beaton

    March 18, 2022 at 6:53 am

    The biggest polluter in the world is China (the US is the biggest polluter per capita, which is more shameful honestly). My country isn’t far behind the US. Firstly, godspeed China! Secondly, with a government and legal system as corrupt as China’s, good luck. I want to believe in them, but unfortunately the proof is in the pudding. I truly mean my well-wishes, but my skepticism is also real.

  28. Rosie S.

    March 18, 2022 at 8:42 am

    James Thornton, thank you for sharing your insight on China. It is refreshing to hear such stories when the western media, it seems., is focused on reporting a one-sided narrative of mostly negative news about China.

    • Pinkie Broker

      March 18, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      Agreed. It’s also one thing if you don’t agree with the politics or what not, but some people seem to use this as an excuse to stigmatize Chinese people. I was on an English Forum for a game made by Chinese developers, and people were just calling CN players “brainwashed slaves” based on assumptions and false facts.

  29. Dayannah Kali

    March 18, 2022 at 8:42 am

    Best new I’ve seen in decades.
    They may ban all of our factories out with those laws, wich may change the whole world !

  30. Deepa Shukla

    March 18, 2022 at 9:08 am

    It’s not Been two days, two years.

  31. Omizuke

    March 18, 2022 at 10:14 am

    Environmental? The same China that last year announced to open 40+ more coal power plants? Yeah, they will not build *outside* of China. But will build twice as many *inside* China. The same that just last month put it’s coal mines to full capacity? China only care about the environment and climate change when it’s to use it against other nations. Other countries will bend over backwards to try an look the more green they can. And countries like China knows this and will use it against them.
    TED talks has become a joke. In the last couple years I keep seeing talks that are either activism, propaganda or lies. Or a combination of those. Hence the disable of like and dislike and the removal of comments. I wonder if this one too will magically disappear. Or will been called out will change that.

    • Tony Kong

      March 18, 2022 at 11:30 am

      nsmslsb

    • Charles Dowding

      March 18, 2022 at 7:52 pm

      OK, but why don’t you try and provide some balance to your comment by mentioning that they are also a leader in renewable energy. Oh, but that doesn’t fit your agenda so you’ll just conveniently censor it out. Brainwashed.

    • Omizuke

      March 18, 2022 at 11:47 pm

      @Charles Dowding What agenda? You are projecting.
      I’m not the one claiming one thing and doing another. They own most of not all the mine to produce the batteries used in green products. And I should know. I’ve work with solar panels setups. And nearly everything we use is either “Made in China” or it’s made using materials imported from China. They are the leader in producing the products. Just like they are the leader in producing/manufacturing most other product across the globe. But using them. If they are the leaders in renewable energy then why do they keep needing more and more coal plants. They produce green products through polluting methodology. To be used in countries that are already doing a good job. They also lead in pollution and creation of waste. Or do you wanna pretend that isn’t the case? And it’s not just emissions. They mass amount of disposable or short live products they produce. And it’s not like nearly all of the top 100 companies share the blames. Most, USA based, and some from other countries including all of Europe and Mexico. Every tech giant like Apple. Some hardware tools and farm machinery. And even home appliance. That not only sell things with an expiration date. But oppose moves like Right to Repair. That would extend the life of products and avoid creating more tons of hardware and machines that could’ve been repaired. But instead have to be replaced by new ones. Creating landfills of waste. In addition to all the consumer that love to virtue signal but replace their electronics every chance they can. My phone is from 2018 and I only got it because my old one wouldn’t support any of the newer bands my carrier was using. And would no longer get signal in some places I frequent.
      Anyway back to China, in addition there are the “ghost” cities They built. Check those out. How much waste is that?
      I don’t have an agenda. I have absolutely no problem in sitting down and list every country, company and person on their bullshit. I do have a problem with pretending that China is some green utopia when it’s not.
      The only ones with an agenda here are those pushing that propaganda.
      And the only one brainwashed here is you who needs to jump in to spew some word play BS about them been leader in renewable energy while completely ignoring all the pollution they produce that by no way is balanced out by what little green they do. Or does calling out “mah China” hurt your feelings?
      Because if you can’t acknowledge those. You are either ignorant and are blindly defending them and need to do some research and educate yourself. Or are aware but willing to lie for your agenda.

  32. Vikram A

    March 18, 2022 at 10:29 am

    Nice propaganda video..
    I say it propaganda because There is no independent judiciary in China.
    Also Communist party of china gives green signal to all polluter companies .
    Now also they are No 1 polluters of world .

    • Omizuke

      March 18, 2022 at 6:32 pm

      Wording is all. The say they won’t build coal plants *outside* China. While preparing to build 40+ *inside* China. And just last month the had their coal plants working at full capacity while simultaneously taunting everyone about been “green”. The worst part is people eat this up.

  33. Samuel Zev

    March 18, 2022 at 11:45 am

    This may all sounds good and promising but the communist mindset is deeply ingrained in China and they are more likely to be two faced when making promises

  34. Gareth Ochse

    March 18, 2022 at 12:06 pm

    Amazing message of hope. Thanks James K Thornton and China.

  35. FlawdaFootball

    March 18, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    Planned economies are better suited to long term problems like climate change than the so-called free market

  36. maradon

    March 18, 2022 at 1:22 pm

    Thank you for sharing the positive side of China which the mainstream news in the West has so far failed to do so. Most Chinese know they have a capable leader in Xi Jinping who has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. He is also the brainchild behind the One Belt One Road initiatives to bring about free trade, peace and prosperity to many poor countries. Salute to him.

  37. Arfat Hossain

    March 18, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    TED is become a propaganda machine… we will not left our human dignity.. we will not bend our knee to ccp,technocracy, transhumanism..we want to live as a human..

    • Omizuke

      March 18, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      It has for a few years now. Slowly putting more and more. Just scroll through the uploaded videos. Why they disabled like and dislikes. And many comments pointing out misleading information, or flat out lies disappear. It’s truly saddening.

  38. Viral Synergy

    March 18, 2022 at 1:50 pm

    Fantastic and now we will have over 1200 Chinese environmental lawyers suing the United States and other countries to indebt them or use as leverage. Congratulations!

  39. Bin. S. S.

    March 18, 2022 at 1:50 pm

    As a Beijing resident of 20+ years, the increasing and rapid improvement of the air conditions has been visible to the naked eye. I’ve never known that there’s been such excellent and continued efforts from your side over the years. We are grateful for for your kind help!

  40. Raunak Lanjewar

    March 18, 2022 at 2:30 pm

    The Chinese are nation builders!

  41. ronkirk50

    March 18, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    China has reached a point in their economic growth that they have the money to move rapidly to improve their environment, and in turn, the environment of the planet. I visited Shanghai over 15 years ago as a merchant marine engineer and over half of the scooters on the roads were already electric. China is a huge country with a very large population so they have a long ways to go to clean up the environment, but they are making rapid progress and it is accelerating.

  42. Kyrin

    March 18, 2022 at 4:16 pm

    B-b-b-but CHINABAD!!!! Colonizers told me China is evil so they must be evil!!

    • Ruth de Nova

      March 18, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      You must work to destroy your hatred because the evil word is only hear within your writings.

  43. Woodchip Gardens

    March 18, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    The problem with Climate Science is they never ever talk about Volcanoes erupting every day and Lighting fires every Summer around the world all year for 2000 years.

    • DuduTheDoraAmon

      March 19, 2022 at 12:02 am

      As a catastrophe scientist, that’s just simply not true. Volcanic eruptions are more likely to cause global cooling than warming. Wildfire models been improving heaps in last few years. Many globe organisations are actively improving it.

    • Woodchip Gardens

      March 19, 2022 at 12:27 am

      @DuduTheDoraAmon Wildfires have burnt out of control long before the United states and every year, the air is always great until Northern California, Oregon and Colorado burn, not to mention famous yearly burns in Southern California also.

  44. Sam Hill

    March 18, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    China is such a great example of humanity.
    Except they tend to kill anyone they dont like.
    Green is the new Red.
    Is Green like China?

  45. Ruth de Nova

    March 18, 2022 at 7:33 pm

    My gratitude and love and triumph to China and Mr. James K Thornton in their lovely work.

  46. DAVID YU

    March 18, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    The life expectancy of china have reached US level in 2021. Thank you sir for your service.

  47. Ligondeez

    March 19, 2022 at 7:40 am

    Incoming racist comments…

  48. Paul S. Kearns

    March 19, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    that dog won’t hunt…
    son you’ve got dog s*** on your shoes…
    ⚠️🌀

  49. Christine Casotti

    March 20, 2022 at 4:32 am

    Thanks for sharing such interesting information. Hopefully people can see the best side of China had done excellent improvement program for the country. Deeply thanks Mr. Thornton your excellent work. ❤️🙏

  50. Allen Holmes

    March 20, 2022 at 1:33 pm

    中国的党和政府有史以来从不吝啬自我革新和自我批评,环境方面我们仍有很长的路要走,很艰难,很漫长,但是只要是中国人决定的事,我们一定能做成功。我们一直在努力塑造大国担当,也期望世界人民看到新时代的中国。

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