China has announced that public interest groups will now be given more power to sue those that breach environmental protection laws. This comes as part of a concentrated effort in China to cut down pollution.
Along with the general encouragement, those groups who pursue guilty parties in court will have their court costs reduced and will gain a "special status". Provinces will pose no issue, and groups can sue those guilty parties regardless of where in the country the guilty company or individual is operating.
Last month, six Chinese companies were fined a record 160m Yuan (£17m) for discharging tens of thousands of tonnes of waste chemicals into rivers after being sued by a local government-backed social group.
Cedrec's take
This is a very clever way for the Chinese Government to crack down on polluters whilst not having to put their own manpower to the cause. Additionally, it strengthens the relationship between the Government and public interest groups in a country where authority can often be seen in a negative light. Finally, it means public interest groups will have motive for taking such polluters to court in the first place. "Special status" promises along with reduced court fees to give many groups the desire and ability to sue such firms and individuals.
China are required to face the pollution issues, as they are considered the world's worst polluter, emitting a massive 27% of the world's CO2 in 2012. All in all, a good idea to help the Chinese Government cut down their pollution rates.
