Beijing court at forefront of eco-protection cases

Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court heard a total of 28 public interest case concerning ecological and environmental protection from 2016 to Thursday, ranking at the forefront in the handling such cases among courts nationwide.

The litigation heard by the Beijing court covered more than 10 aspects, including air, water and soil pollution as well as solid waste, protection of wetlands and campus environment, according to a statement released by the court on Thursday.

To solve the cases in a professional, efficient and systematic manner, the court built a team specializing in handling such litigation and established the city's first database of judicial talent in this field, the statement said.

Additionally, the court also gives quick and easy access to such lawsuits initiated by prosecutors and NGOs, inviting technologists and residents to jointly provide ideas in ecological and environment restoration, it added.

On Thursday, Ma Jun, chief judge of the court's Civil Division, issued 10 influential public interest cases, including four focused on air pollution.

He said the court will give stronger protection to the environment and ecology by improving the quality of relevant trials to help integrate development between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei by rule of law.