Q&A

The Revised Law widens the channels for initiating public-interest environmental litigation against polluters. While previously only a single state-controlled NGO was capable of bringing such suits to court, under the Revised Law, all social organizations registered with a Civil Affairs Bureau above the city level will be able to file lawsuits, provided they have been continuously active for at least five years and have no previous record of illegal activity. This is expected to include some 300 environmental groups across China. Individual citizens and citizen groups will also be able to anonymously report environmental violators, including both enterprises and government authorities.