China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, will provide more support to non-governmental organizations that sue polluters.

 

The nation will work to reduce court charges for NGOs in public non-profit environmental litigation, according to a statement on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. Defendants will be required to pay court costs when plaintiffs win lawsuits, the statement said.

 

The world’s second-biggest economy has struggled to combat pollution, a byproduct of its rapid growth and an increasing leading cause of social unrest.

 

China’s biggest changes to its environmental protection laws in 25 years became effective on January 1. The amended law outlines plans to punish polluters more severely as leaders work to limit contaminated water, air and soil.

 

Environmental-protection NGOs can bring lawsuits against violators nationwide, according to a judicial interpretation that was issued by the Supreme People’s Court and came into effect today.

 

Chinese courts should report litigation to relevant environmental-protection authorities within 10 days after they accept the case, according to the interpretation.

 

NGOs using litigation for profit will face punitive actions from authorities that manage their registration, it said.