China's Courts Report Progress in Environmental Justice

China's highest court has reported a strengthening of penalties and improvements in the quality of environmental justice, resulting in a consistent decrease in related legal cases. The Supreme People's Court released a report detailing these trends.

The report indicated a reduction in the number of environmental cases heard by Chinese courts. Figures show a decline from 297,492 cases in 2021 to 245,723 cases in 2024. Courts across the nation actively enforced environmental laws and regulations concerning air, water, soil, solid waste, and noise pollution. Stringent criminal penalties were imposed on those who polluted the environment and damaged ecosystems.

In the past year, courts at all levels handled a significant number of criminal pollution cases, concluding a substantial portion of them. Furthermore, they addressed numerous criminal cases related to illegal mining activities, resolving a considerable number. The report also highlighted criminal punishments for individuals involved in activities such as smuggling endangered animals, illegal fishing, unlawful hunting, and timber theft.

The report provided specific examples of court rulings. One case involved a chemical company, a technology enterprise, and several individuals found criminally liable for illegally discharging hazardous waste. The court ordered the defendants to pay substantial compensation for environmental damage. Another case resulted in imprisonment for a resident who illegally introduced invasive species.

Alongside the crackdown on environmental crimes, Chinese courts have focused on developing specialized adjudication teams to support case handling and promote environmental conservation. By the end of 2024, China had established numerous judicial bodies dedicated to environmental case handling. These bodies are staffed by a large number of judicial workers specializing in environmental trials and legal services.

An expert team praised the ongoing efforts to enhance the professionalism of environmental adjudication. The team emphasized the importance of establishing a strong judicial framework for major river basins and advocated for the increased use of public interest litigation to resolve environmental disputes.

The top court's report also highlighted increased collaboration between courts and other authorities in key regional watersheds. It emphasized the coordinated development of specific regions, environmental protection of river basins, and the establishment of national parks. The report also encouraged judges to engage in more international exchanges on environmental justice and to optimize legal services to address challenges in this area.