Bringing In + Going Out — China's Solution for Public Interest Litigation　

Hello everyone! Today I'd like to share how China uses public interest litigation to protect the common good and address the "tragedy of the commons".

In a world transformed by technology and evolving global governance, safeguarding clean water and air, biodiversity, and public safety is a shared challenge.

In China, prosecutors not only bring criminal cases.

We can also act on behalf of the public interest in areas like environmental and resource protection, food and drug safety, state-owned property protection, and construction of accessible environment.

Let me share a real example: the Nansi Lakes public interest litigation for environmental violations.

Nansi Lakes are the largest freshwater lake system in northern China—four connected lakes across four provinces, with a watershed over 30,000 square kilometers and a lake surface exceeding 1,200 square kilometers.

The challenge was complex: multiple jurisdictions, different standards, and 53 rivers flowing into the lake, leading to eutrophication, suspended solids, illegal construction, and waste.

In April 2021, China's Supreme People's Procuratorate(SPP) decided to launch a public interest litigation.

Over one year, prosecutors addressed 205 pollution-related issues, urged cleanup of more than 50,000 tons of solid waste, and removed over 1,700 illegal lakeside farms and structures.

We also helped unify enforcement standards across jurisdictions so rules were clear and consistent.

Here is what stands out.

First, most cases never went to court-over 90% were resolved before trial by urging agencies to perform their duties.

That meant faster results and lower costs.

Second, technology played a central role: satellite remote sensing helped detect violations and collect evidence; digital tools supported hearings and inter-agency coordination.

Third, outcomes were tangible: water quality indicators, once below standard, reached full compliance; enforcement standards were unified; and the lake’s ecology visibly improved.

In July 2024, at the 22nd Meeting of Prosecutors General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Bishkek, this case was highlighted for its tech-enabled approach and drew positive feedback.

The Nansi Lakes story shows how China's public interest litigation emphasizes problem-solving over litigation for its own sake.

We supervise law-based governance, and collaborate with administrative bodies to fix root causes.

We leverage technology to detect, verify, and correct violations, and we push for systemic fixes so problems don't come back.

This approach has gained recognition at global forums like the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the UN Biodiversity Conference.

It is part of "bringing in" global best practices while "going out" to share Chinese experience.

From 2015 to the end of 2025, prosecutors nationwide handled nearly 1.3 million public interest matters.

Three features stand out.

First, both civil and administrative actions were initiated, with administrative cases about 90% of the total.

Second, over 95% of administrative cases are resolved before trial through supervision and urged rectification.

Third, multiple actors can bring civil public interest cases, but only prosecutors can initiate administrative public interest litigation—so prosecutors handle the main workload.

Over more than a decade, the system has grown from top-level design to pilots, to nationwide rollout, and into mature practice—becoming an essential part of China's justice system.

2025 marks ten years since the pilots began and a key moment for legislation.

On October 24,2025, a draft Public Interest Litigation Law was submitted to the national legislature for review, clarifying scope, powers, and procedures.

As the system matures, we will remain open and inclusive—strengthening international dialogue, learning from useful practices worldwide, and improving China's public interest litigation system.

Public interest litigation in China is rooted in our national conditions and focused on practical results-yet it speaks to shared global goals: cleaner environments, safer products, and accountable governance.

We welcome cooperation with partners worldwide to protect the public good. Thank you for watching.