Courts pay more attention to preventing ecological damage

Chinese courts have attached greater importance to preventing ecological and environmental damage, according to a judge from the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

The people's courts at all levels issued 208 bans for ecological protection in 2025, according to the work report delivered by Zhang Jun, SPC president, at the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on Monday.

Wu Zhaoxiang, chief judge of the SPC's Environment and Resource Division, said that in terms of ecological protection, the issuance of these bans in advance is more effective than afterward remedy as such damage is always irreversible.

"The people's courts issued the bans because ecological and environmental damage is latent, persistent and irreversible. Traditional civil accountability based on the principle of afterward remedy is hard to ensure effective protection of ecology and environment. So it is of great realistic significance in ecological and environmental protection to strengthen preemptive prevention to promptly stop the occurrence and expansion of damage," he said.

In terms of post-judgment remedy, the people's courts regard the determination of a restoration plan as an important part of the trial of public interest litigation cases, making it clear in judgment documents.

In 2025, the court judgments involved 4.369 billion yuan (around 632.17 million U.S. dollars) for ecological and environmental restoration and damage compensation nationwide.

"The people's courts, based on different types of ecological and environmental damage and specific circumstances of the cases, explore and innovate suitable restoration methods, such as replanting and re-greening, fish stocking, and rewilding and reintroduction, offering effective options to different types of ecosystems. Meanwhile, courts across the country have established over 1,300 comprehensive sites for ecological and environmental judicial protection and restoration in key areas of nature reserves and natural or cultural heritage sites, making the judicial protection perceivable to the people," Wu said.

Courts pay more attention to preventing ecological damage

Song Ping, a late senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state, was cremated in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and other leaders paid their final respects to Song at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express his condolences over Song's passing.

Song died of illness in Beijing on March 4 at the age of 109.

Song, who was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 13th CPC Central Committee and a former state councilor, was extolled as an excellent member of the CPC, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary and statesman, and an exceptional leader of the Party and the state.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and Hu Jintao had either visited Song when he was in hospital or expressed condolences over his passing and offered sympathies to his family through various means.

Late senior Chinese official Song Ping cremated