The motivation should come from regulatory enforcement, but enforcement is weak, and environmental litigation is near to impossible. So there's an urgent need for extensive public participation to generate another kind of motivation.

Ma Jun's quote underscores the weakness of traditional methods like regulatory enforcement and environmental litigation in driving meaningful environmental protection. He argues that although regulations are in place, their enforcement is often inadequate, making it difficult to hold polluters accountable. Furthermore, environmental litigation is presented as nearly impossible, either due to legal barriers or the complexity of pursuing such cases in court, which weakens the ability of individuals and organizations to seek justice.

Given the limitations of these legal and regulatory mechanisms, Ma Jun calls for extensive public participation as a crucial alternative. He believes that in order to effectively address environmental issues, there needs to be a shift toward a model where the public is more actively engaged in monitoring, advocating, and participating in decision-making. This participation would create an additional layer of motivation, where public awareness and activism drive the changes needed to protect the environment, filling the gap left by insufficient enforcement.

Ma Jun, a prominent environmental activist and founder of the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, has long advocated for more transparency and accountability in environmental governance. His work focuses on exposing pollution and pushing for greater citizen involvement in the decision-making process. This quote reflects his belief that in countries or regions where government enforcement is weak, the role of the public in safeguarding the environment becomes even more critical.

The call for public participation emphasizes the importance of collective action in tackling environmental challenges. Ma Jun argues that motivating people to be involved in environmental protection—whether through grassroots organizing, public awareness campaigns, or direct action—can provide the necessary push to create real, lasting change, especially when traditional legal and regulatory systems are inadequate.