A new law enacted in January has been used for the first time by a Chinese NGO against a polluting factory. The Chinese courts have accepted a case put forward by the All-China Environment Federation against a factory for failing to take action on air pollution.

The factory, Zhenhua Co, produces glass and has consistently failed to reduce its emissions of polluting gasses despite being fined by local environmental bodies. The lawsuit by the All-China Environment Federation is seeking 4.8 million USD in damages and is to be heard by the Intermediate People’s Court in Dezhou City.

 Zhenhua Co. was already on the government blacklist since October for failing to control both dust and sulphur emissions.

The All-China Environment Federation decided to take action after local residents reported continuing foul-smelling smoke being emitted from the factory.

The action by the NGO has already started to produce results as it has encouraged local politicians to also act against the company. The Dezhou municipal government has given the company until the 1st April to clean up its emissions or have its operating permit suspended.

The legal action follows the request of Premier Li Keqiang at the national congress earlier this month for NGO’s to take action against polluters to help deal with situations that are against the public interest. He said that the new law should be used to make it a powerful and effective tool in the control of pollution rather than just be for show and “as soft as cotton candy“.

All-China Environment Federation was set up on April 22, 2005 and is made up of a range of members from individuals to businesses with a remit to protect the environment.

http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2015/03/chinese-courts-accepts-first-environmental-lawsuit/