Environmental litigation

... Civil trials are lawsuits filed by victims of pollution against the perpetrators, such as businesses, seeking compensation for damages and/or an injunction against all or part of the business activities that caused the damage. In past cases, there have often been many victims, prolonged litigation, and a tendency for the cases to become social issues, with support movements for the victims. There are also criminal trials that hold those who cause pollution criminally responsible. In Japan, pollution damage is serious, and there have been many cases that have caused serious health damage, including deaths. ...

*Some explanations of terms that refer to "environmental litigation" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…　公害の被害者が加害者である事業者等を相手に，損害賠償や被害発生の原因となる事業活動の全部または一部の差止めを求めて提起した訴訟についての民事裁判。これまでの事例では，しばしば被害者が多数にのぼり，訴訟が長期化し，一方では被害者に対する支援の運動を伴い社会問題化する傾向があった。このほか，公害を発生させた者の刑事責任を問う刑事裁判がある。　日本では，公害被害が深刻であり，死者を含む重大な健康被害を引き起こした事件が少なくない。…

※「環境訴訟」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報