China notes decrease in environmental violations in past 4 years

China has witnessed a decline in the number of environmental cases in recent years, thanks to its intensified efforts in developing professional adjudication teams and enhancing measures to combat pollution, the country's top court said.

An environmental adjudication report released by the Supreme People's Court on Thursday showed that the number of environmental cases heard by Chinese courts has steadily decreased over the past four years, falling from 297,492 in 2021 to 245,723 in 2024.

Last year, courts nationwide continued the battle against pollution by strictly implementing environmental laws and regulations concerning air, water, soil, solid waste and noise protection, and providing harsh criminal punishments to those caught polluting the environment and damaging ecosystems, according to the report.

Throughout the year, courts at all levels handled 2,012 criminal cases related to pollution, 1,637 of which have been concluded. They also addressed over 3,600 criminal cases involving illegal mining, with 2,956 of them resolved, the report stated.

Additionally, it said that criminal penalties have been imposed on individuals involved in smuggling endangered animals or their products, illegal fishing, unlawful hunting and timber theft.

While strengthening the fight against environmental offenders, Chinese courts have also consistently optimized legal services and improved the quality of relevant case handling to support environmental conservation and restoration efforts.

The report reveals that by the end of 2024, China has established 2,424 judicial bodies, including tribunal and panels, dedicated to handling environmental cases, with over 16,100 judicial workers specializing in environmental adjudication.

It added that courts across the country have also intensified cooperation in key regional watersheds, focusing on the coordinated growth of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the construction of the Xiong'an New Area, the ecological protection of the Yangtze and Yellow River basins, and the establishment of national parks.