BEIJING -- Chinese courts have concluded 36,733 environmental criminal cases of the first instance in 2019, up 43.4 percent year on year, convicting a total of 114,633 people, according to the white paper released on May 8 by the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

Over the past year, a total of 39,957 environmental criminal cases in their first trails have been received by courts across the country, 50.9 percent higher than the previous year, the report stated.

The white paper, the fourth of its kind, pointed out that Chinese courts have explored various methods of ecological restoration and improved supporting mechanisms, such as promoting the establishment of special funds, to ensure the timely and effective restoration of the ecological environment.

The SPC also released 40 typical cases of environmental crimes on the same day, covering five major categories including the prevention and control on environmental pollution, ecological protection, as well as development and utilization of resources.