Pollution Punishment

China addressed more environmental pollution cases in the first 11 months of 2017, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

From January to November last year, China investigated over 35,600 violations of environmental protection laws and regulations, up more than 102 percent year on year, according to Tian Weiyong, an official with the MEP.

Fines totaling over 1 billion yuan ($153 million) were handed out in 1,046 cases where violators must pay daily fines until they address their wrongdoings, up more than 43 percent and 31 percent year on year, respectively.

Meanwhile, more than 2,500 cases were transferred to public security departments, rising by over 46 percent year on year.

Environmental authorities have ordered production suspension or production cuts in more than 7,800 cases during the same period, according to Tian.

China held more than 6,400 officials in eight provincial-level regions accountable for environmental damage after inspections by central authorities from August to September 2017.

The inspections are part of China’s campaign to fight pollution and environmental damage. Tackling pollution has been listed as one of “the three tough battles” that China aims to win in the next three years, according to the Central Economic Work Conference that