Core Viewpoint - The Supreme People's Court of China emphasizes strict legal actions against environmental violations, particularly focusing on fraudulent activities by third-party environmental service providers and illegal waste disposal practices [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Actions Against Environmental Violations - A case involving a testing company revealed that the defendants provided 222 false environmental monitoring reports, earning over 760,000 yuan. The court sentenced the company to a fine of 200,000 yuan and imposed prison terms on six individuals ranging from nine months to one year and two months, prohibiting them from engaging in environmental monitoring for three years post-sentence [1]. - In another case, a resin technology company and its personnel were found guilty of illegally discharging over 20,000 tons of hazardous waste into the Yangtze River. The company was fined 6 million yuan, and the individuals received prison sentences ranging from two years to six years and six months, with a compensation mechanism involving cash and technological improvements [1]. Group 2: Promoting Green Transformation and Conflict Resolution - The courts are actively resolving conflicts arising from the green transformation of the economy, focusing on ecological and environmental disputes that affect people's lives. In a contract dispute case, a biomass energy company refused to accept over 7,000 tons of cow dung, leading to outdoor accumulation. The court applied green principles from the Civil Code to facilitate the reuse of the waste through various methods, including the production of biomass pellets [2]. - In a separate case, a livestock cooperative was found guilty of repeatedly discharging wastewater, contaminating drinking water sources and disrupting water supply to nearby villages. The cooperative was fined 400,000 yuan, and the responsible individual received a four-year prison sentence along with a fine of 100,000 yuan [2].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the increasing scrutiny and legal actions against environmental monitoring companies in China, emphasizing the importance of integrity in environmental data reporting and the judicial system's role in enforcing compliance [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Consequences - A case involving a testing company that provided false environmental monitoring reports was highlighted, resulting in the conviction of the company and six individuals for providing false certification documents, with fines and prison sentences imposed [2]. - The company was fined 200,000 yuan, while the individuals received prison sentences ranging from nine months to one year and two months, along with a three-year ban from engaging in environmental monitoring after serving their sentences [2]. Group 2: Judicial System's Role - The Supreme Court's actions serve as a strong warning to other environmental monitoring institutions and personnel, aiming to deter similar fraudulent activities [2]. - The judiciary has initiated a special rectification campaign targeting fraudulent practices among third-party environmental service providers, collaborating with various governmental departments to enhance ecological governance [2]. Group 3: Specialized Environmental Courts - By the end of 2024, 2,424 specialized environmental resource courts had been established across the country, with over 6,700 judges and 9,400 auxiliary personnel dedicated to environmental resource adjudication [3]. - More than 1,700 courts have implemented specialized handling of environmental criminal, civil, and administrative cases, optimizing jurisdictional arrangements and incorporating ecological experts into the investigation process [4]. Group 4: Case Statistics and Trends - In 2024, the courts concluded 219,276 environmental resource cases, including 25,811 criminal cases, 151,256 civil cases, and 42,209 administrative cases, with a notable increase in ecological damage compensation orders totaling 9.6 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 87.5% [4].

Core Viewpoint - The People's Court is committed to strictly cracking down on illegal activities by third-party environmental service agencies, with ongoing special rectification efforts in collaboration with ecological and environmental departments [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Penalties - A case involving a testing company that provided false environmental monitoring reports was highlighted, with 222 fraudulent reports issued between March 2021 and October 2023, resulting in illegal gains of over 760,000 yuan [1]. - The court sentenced the testing company to a fine of 200,000 yuan and imposed prison terms ranging from nine months to one year and two months on six individuals involved, along with a three-year ban from engaging in environmental monitoring after serving their sentences [2]. Group 2: Judicial Recommendations and Measures - The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of punishing the defendants and implementing industry bans as a warning to other environmental monitoring institutions and professionals [2]. - The People's Court has issued judicial recommendations to administrative authorities to assist in comprehensive ecological and environmental governance, addressing the chaotic operations of third-party environmental service agencies [2]. Group 3: Specialized Environmental Resource Trials - By the end of 2024, 2,424 specialized environmental resource trial institutions had been established across the country, with over 6,700 judges and 9,400 auxiliary personnel dedicated to environmental resource trials [3]. - In 2024, the People's Court concluded 219,276 first-instance environmental resource cases, including 25,811 criminal cases and 151,256 civil cases, with a significant increase of 87.5% in ecological damage compensation amounting to 9.6 billion yuan [3].

Core Insights - The Supreme People's Court reported a decline in environmental resource cases, with over 245,000 cases accepted and approximately 219,000 concluded in 2024, marking a continuous three-year decrease [1][3] Group 1: Environmental Resource Cases - In 2024, the courts accepted over 28,000 criminal cases related to environmental resources and concluded nearly 26,000, emphasizing the enforcement of criminal policies against environmental crimes [3][4] - The civil cases related to environmental resources saw over 167,000 accepted and about 151,000 concluded, highlighting the principle of full compensation for environmental damage [3][4] - Administrative cases numbered around 50,000 accepted and over 42,000 concluded, showcasing the courts' role in supervising administrative compliance [3][4] Group 2: Environmental Protection and Judicial Measures - The courts concluded over 4,900 cases related to pollution and ecological damage, reinforcing judicial support for pollution prevention efforts [4] - A total of 6,040 cases involving illegal mining and utility contracts were adjudicated, reflecting a comprehensive approach to environmental and resource management [4] - The courts processed 26,000 cases related to deforestation and ecological destruction, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining ecosystem diversity and stability [4] Group 3: Specialized Environmental Judicial Institutions - By the end of 2024, 2,424 specialized environmental resource courts were established, with over 16,000 judges and judicial assistants dedicated to these cases [5] - The establishment of over 1,000 comprehensive ecological judicial protection bases aims to enhance systemic protection levels [5] - Collaborative efforts with various governmental bodies are underway to reform ecological damage compensation systems, providing policy guidance for judicial practices [5]

Group 1 - The Supreme Court's annual report indicates that in 2024, courts adjudicated 219,000 environmental resource cases, including 26,000 criminal cases related to environmental pollution and ecological damage [1][2] - The report emphasizes the enforcement of environmental protection laws, with over 4,900 cases related to pollution adjudicated, supporting the ongoing battle against pollution [2] - The establishment of specialized environmental resource courts has increased, with 2,424 such courts set up nationwide, employing over 16,000 judges and judicial assistants [3] Group 2 - The report highlights the judicial efforts to support the "dual carbon" goals, including the establishment of a climate change judicial response research center [2][3] - It details the judicial handling of ecological damage compensation, with 246 cases adjudicated and a total compensation amounting to 9.6 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 87.5% [1] - The Supreme Court is actively involved in legislative support for ecological environment laws and has published numerous typical cases to guide judicial practices [3]