China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has launched a massive crackdown on polluting industries, and even on officials suspected of protecting violators of environment law. The move came within weeks of Chinese President Xi Jinping promising to drastically cut down emissions at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris in mid December.
The Chinese Supreme Court this month slapped the highest penalty ever when it ordered a company in Jiangsu province to pay a file of $26 million. The company was asked to compensate the local municipal body in Taizhou city for discharging 25,000 metric tons of waste acids in two different rivers.