Enterprises and companies should shoulder their own social responsibilities and obligations just as individual citizens do. And they should conduct themselves according to basic ethics and be self-disciplined. First and foremost, enterprises and companies must work to protect the environment.

Specific criteria involving economic entities' social responsibilities ought to be worked out, quantifying their obligations and setting up an evaluation system to gauge the fulfilment of their responsibilities in this regard.

Moreover, clear-cut provisions in environmental protection laws should ensure that polluters pay for any environmental damage they cause. But the existing environmental laws do not contain such clear-cut compensation articles.

A National People's Congress deputy suggested earlier this year that an environmental pollution compensation law should be enacted to hold the polluters responsible for pollution and make them pay for it. Subjecting polluters to disciplinary punishment is of course important, as was mandated in existing laws. But it is not enough. Financial compensation will help ensure they discipline themselves.

Despite the great losses resulting from last year's pollution of the Songhua River, no one has been made to pay. This is nothing but countenancing polluting.

The author is a professor from China University of Political Science and Law.

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