卢佳佳：“引进来 + 走出去”——检察公益诉讼的中国方案

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".

今天，我想和大家分享中国如何通过公益诉讼来保护公共利益、应对“公地悲剧”。

In a world transformed by technology and evolving global governance, safeguarding clean water and air, biodiversity, and public safety is a shared challenge.
在科技迅猛发展和全球治理不断变化的世界里，守护清洁的水与空气、生物多样性和公共安全，是各国共同面对的挑战。

In China, prosecutors not only bring criminal cases.
在中国，检察机关不仅办理刑事案件。

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.
我们还可以代表公共利益，在生态环境和资源保护、食品药品安全、国有财产保护、无障碍环境建设等领域履职。

Let me share a real example: the Nansi Lakes public interest litigation for environmental violations.
让我用一个真实案例来说明：南四湖生态环境公益诉讼。

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.
南四湖是中国北方最大的淡水湖群，由四个相连湖泊构成，跨越四省，流域面积超过3万平方公里，湖面面积超过1200平方公里。

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

治理难点在于多省多县、标准不同，53条入湖河流交汇，导致富营养化、悬浮物超标、违法建设和垃圾污染等问题。

In April 2021, China's Supreme People's Procuratorate(SPP) decided to launch a public interest litigation.
2021年4月，最高人民检察院决定直接进行公益诉讼立案。

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.
用时一年，检察机关推动解决205个污染问题，督促清理各类固体废弃物逾5万吨，拆除清理1700余处违法养殖和违章建筑。

We also helped unify enforcement standards across jurisdictions so rules were clear and consistent.
同时推动跨区域执法标准统一，实现规则清晰一致。

Here is what stands out.
这个案例有三点值得关注。

First, most cases never went to court-over 90% were resolved before trial by urging agencies to perform their duties.
一是大多数问题无需走到法庭，90%以上在审前通过督促履职得以解决。

That meant faster results and lower costs.
这带来了更高效率和更低成本。

Second, technology played a central role: satellite remote sensing helped detect violations and collect evidence; digital tools supported hearings and inter-agency coordination.
二是科技发挥关键作用：卫星遥感用于发现线索、固定证据，数字化工具支撑听证与跨部门协同。

Third, outcomes were tangible: water quality indicators, once below standard, reached full compliance; enforcement standards were unified; and the lake’s ecology visibly improved.
三是成效可见：水质指标从不达标到全面达标，执法标准统一，生态面貌显著改善。

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.
2024年7月，在吉尔吉斯共和国首都比什凯克召开的第二十二次上海合作组织成员国总检察长会议上，该案例因科技赋能的做法受到关注与好评。

The Nansi Lakes story shows how China's public interest litigation emphasizes problem-solving over litigation for its own sake.
南四湖案例体现出中国公益诉讼注重“解决问题”，而不是为诉而诉。

We supervise law-based governance, and collaborate with administrative bodies to fix root causes.
我们依法监督，与行政机关协同发力，治理症结、完善机制。

We leverage technology to detect, verify, and correct violations, and we push for systemic fixes so problems don't come back.
我们运用科技发现线索、调查核实与推动整改，并促进制度性修复，防止问题反弹。

This approach has gained recognition at global forums like the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the UN Biodiversity Conference.
这种做法在世界自然保护大会、联合国生物多样性大会等国际场合获得认可。

It is part of "bringing in" global best practices while "going out" to share Chinese experience.
它既是“引进来”吸收国际经验，也是在“走出去”分享中国方案。

From 2015 to the end of 2025, prosecutors nationwide handled nearly 1.3 million public interest matters.
自2015年至2025年底，全国检察机关共办理近130万件公益诉讼案件。

Three features stand out.
主要呈现三大特点。

First, both civil and administrative actions were initiated, with administrative cases about 90% of the total.
一是民事与行政并行，其中行政公益诉讼案件约占总量的90%。

Second, over 95% of administrative cases are resolved before trial through supervision and urged rectification.
二是行政公益诉讼案件95%以上在审前督促履职而得到解决。

Third, multiple actors can bring civil public interest cases, but only prosecutors can initiate administrative public interest litigation—so prosecutors handle the main workload.
三是提起民事公益诉讼主体多元，只有检察机关可提起行政公益诉讼，已形成以检察公益诉讼为主体的公益诉讼基本格局。

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.
十多年来，公益诉讼从从顶层设计到实践落地、从局部试点到全面推开，已成为中国特色社会主义司法制度的重要组成部分。

2025 marks ten years since the pilots began and a key moment for legislation.
2025年是检察公益诉讼试点启动十周年，也是公益诉讼立法的关键之年。

On October 24,2025, a draft Public Interest Litigation Law was submitted to the national legislature for review, clarifying scope, powers, and procedures.
2025年10月24日，《检察公益诉讼法（草案）》提请全国人大常委会审议，进一步明确案件范围、权力配置与程序规则。

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.
随着制度不断成熟，我们将坚持开放包容，加强国际交流互鉴，合理借鉴各方有益做法，持续完善公益诉讼制度。

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.
中国的公益诉讼立足国情、注重实效，同时服务于共同的全球目标：更清洁的环境、更安全的产品和更负责的治理。

We welcome cooperation with partners worldwide to protect the public good. Thank you for watching.
我们欢迎与全球伙伴携手合作，共同守护公共利益。感谢观看！

责编：于昕冉