The System of Compensation for Eco-Environmental Damage
The system of compensation for eco-environmental damage is an important component of the system of institutions for building an eco-civilization. The central authorities have used compensation as a tool of remedy to assist with eco-environmental conservation.
The 18th CPC Central Committee, at its third plenary session in 2013, decided to adopt such a system to make those responsible pay for damage and hold offenders accountable for criminal acts.
From 2015 to 2017, pilots were carried out in some provinces and cities, and in 2018, the system was rolled out nationwide.
The 19th CPC Central Committee, at its fourth plenary session in 2019, announced the decision to implement the eco-compensation system, and the systems of compensation and lifelong accountability for eco-environmental damage.
The system of compensation for eco-environmental damage has clear provisions about the scope of application, the parties responsible, the claimants, the channels of payment, damage identification and evaluation, relevant technologies, funding guarantees and operational mechanisms. The implementation of the system helps raise the efficiency of damage payment and eco-environmental recovery.
Previously, when the environment was polluted by an enterprise, it was the people who suffered and the government who had to pay for the pollution. This new system now provides institutional guarantee for protecting the people's environmental rights and interests, and meets their growing desire for a pleasant eco-environment.
A sound system of compensation for eco-environmental damage is an important part of the reform to build an eco-civilization. It is also part of the strictest possible systems for ecological and environmental protection practiced in China.
生态环境损害赔偿制度
生态环境损害赔偿制度是生态文明制度体系的重要组成部分。中共中央、国务院高度重视生态环境损害赔偿工作。2013年11月，中共十八届三中全会《决定》提出，对造成生态环境损害的责任者严格实行赔偿制度，依法追究刑事责任。2015年11月，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发《生态环境损害赔偿制度改革试点方案》，部署生态环境损害赔偿制度改革工作。在此基础上，2017年12月，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发《生态环境损害赔偿制度改革方案》，标志着生态环境损害赔偿制度改革从先行试点进入全国试行的新阶段。2019年10月，中共十九届四中全会《决定》进一步提出，落实生态补偿和生态环境损害赔偿制度，实行生态环境损害责任终身追究制。
生态环境损害赔偿制度，明确生态环境损害赔偿范围、责任主体、索赔主体和损害赔偿解决途径，形成相应的鉴定评估管理和技术体系、资金保障和运行机制，不断提高生态环境损害赔偿和修复的效率，为破解“企业污染、群众受害、政府买单”的不合理局面，切实维护人民群众环境权益，满足人民日益增长的优美生态环境需要提供坚实制度保障。建立健全生态环境损害赔偿制度，是生态文明体制改革的重要内容，是实行最严格的生态环境保护制度的具体实践。