Polluters pay policy to soon go nationwide

A pilot reform obliging polluters to pay hefty sums to repair the environment after causing major damage will go nationwide starting next year, which will improve the efficiency of its efforts to protect the environment, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

By 2020, improvements will lead to the establishment of an efficient comprehensive damage compensation system to repair damage, including to the air, water, soil and forests, according to the document issued on Sunday by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

It added that if polluters - individuals and companies - caused severe pollution or environmental deterioration, they should repair the damage or pay for the losses if the damage is beyond restoration.