Ecological Restoration in International and Chinese Environmental Law

What if Chinese citizens could hold governments accountable for restoring damaged ecosystems? As ecosystems collapse worldwide, this book reveals how China can learn from the public trust principle to develop voluntary restoration commitments into action more effectively. It shows how legal tools, such as environmental public interest litigation and ecological environment damage compensation litigation, are being used to enforce international restoration commitments under the UNCCD, UNFCCC, and CBD. Drawing on legal cases, it argues for reforms that empower NGOs and individuals to hold public authorities accountable - so that ecological restoration becomes not just an ideal, but a legal obligation.