What you probably already know: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a sweeping international development strategy launched in 2013 to build and invest in infrastructure, transportation, trade and production networks in roughly 150 countries, holds enormous potential for the global GDP. But the ambitious program has also been accused of luring developing nations into debt, exploiting workers and exacerbating environmental issues. In response to the latter, an environmental lawyer dubbed the “Erin Brockovich of China” is working to hold Chinese companies to their green promises.
Why? Jingjing Zhang earned the title early in her career after winning a prominent class-action lawsuit against a chemical company for water pollution in Fujian province. For the last decade, she’s focused on Chinese companies operating overseas, traveling to roughly 20 countries where she helps local communities that have experienced pollution or other environmental damage from Chinese-owned development projects such as mines, power plants and dams. Her mission is to help affected communities get justice and lasting change. Earlier this year, Zhang responded to pleas for help in Zambia after a collapsed dam at a Chinese-owned copper mine released 50 million liters of highly toxic waste into the region’s most important waterway. The mine’s operator, Sino-Metals Leach, apologized and agreed to restore the river and compensate victims.
What it means: Zhang told Inside Climate News that Chinese media downplayed the incident. When she traveled to Zambia in May, local attorneys representing affected villagers told her that an environmental impact assessment — carried out by Sino-Metals at the government’s behest — was not publicly available. During her visit to the community living below the mine, Zhang listened (while under suspected Sino-Metals surveillance) to first-hand accounts from people who lost their entire livelihoods and depended on small handouts from Sino-Metals. Zhang then went to work: She gathered local lawyers, environmental activists, researchers and community organizers at a meeting where she explained to them their rights. She told them about China’s BRI and government-backed business structure, and gave them information on China’s environmental policies that they could take to future meetings with Sino-Metals.
What happens now? Zambia Vice President Mutale Nalumango pledged last week to seek additional compensation from Sino-Metals for those impacted by the spill, depending on the results of a “thorough and independent assessment.” In a report released the next day, Human Rights Watch said many people living in impacted areas were still experiencing health problems and some hadn’t received any financial help, which has reportedly ranged from $17 to $2,000 a person. Zhang continues to assist in the case. “I believe every case is a step forward,” she told Inside Climate News. “Even if we lose, we show people that the law can be a tool for them — that they have rights.”
— Story by Cambrie Juarez
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