16. Environmental Public Interest Litigation

Abstract

This chapter introduces the history and background of environmental public interest litigation and illustrates the status quo, problems, and challenges it faces in China. The establishment of environmental protection courts opened the judiciary door to environmental public interest litigation. However, few of the cases accepted by these courts, which were established specially for environmental public interest litigation, are targeted at environmental public interest. Consequently, queries concerning the environmental protection court arise along with praise for it. How will environmental public interest litigation develop in China? The chapter provides a case study and envisions the prospect for environmental public interest litigation. The practice of environmental public interest litigation as a legal system is dependent on various factors, including the nature of the system itself and its supporting systems. Keywords: China; environmental protection courts; environmental public interest litigation