The Supreme People’s Court has appointed Deng Xuelin as the presiding judge of the Environmental and Resources Tribunal, Reuters reported, citing China Environmental News on Monday. Established two weeks ago, the tribunal is part of a bid to improve enforcement of environmental laws. It would coordinate the 134 environmental courts set up by local governments. Litigators complain that lawsuits against polluters are routinely rejected or ignored by local courts, which lack the capacity and independence to take on government-backed firms. Earlier this year, China amended its 1989 Environmental Protection Law, giving local governments greater powers to fine, shut down and imprison violators.
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