China is planning to allow the government to claim compensation from polluting enterprises and individuals.
The State Council, the country's cabinet, said on Thursday that it is going to trial the policy in a few provinces before rolling it out nationwide in 2018.
It has not decided on the provinces yet, but said the trial will work out the compensation system's scope and application.
It will cover air, water and soil pollution, along with damage to plants and animals.
China already allows social organizations to initiate public interest litigation on environmental damage. The new system is aimed more at damage to state property, said the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
