Beijing’s highest court has granted more power to groups wishing to sue polluters, the Guardian reports.

The ruling, which came into effect on Wednesday January 7, is part of an improved effort to combat pollution and will allow environmental groups special privileges and reduced court fees when taking legal action on environmental issues.

The new measures extend to both NGO’s and governmental organizations, according to a statement on the China Supreme People’s Court website.

It also clears the way for environmental groups to sue polluters across the country, regardless of where they are based, an issue that has previously proven as an obstruction to taking legal action.

Although this is a positive step, China still has a mountain to climb when it comes to tackling pollution; studies have shown that two thirds of China’s soild is polluted, whilst 60 percent of China’s underground water is considered unsuitable to drink.

Source: Guardian, Bloomberg

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Keywords: China Grants More Power to Sue Polluters