Research on the Application of Punitive Damages in Ecological and Environmental Tort Cases

随着生态环境问题的日益严峻，传统的同质赔偿机制已难以全面应对环境污染和生态破坏带来的损害，其有效性逐渐减弱。在此背景下，惩罚性赔偿作为一种更为严格的法律责任形式，被引入生态环境侵权领域，以期通过加大对侵权行为的惩戒力度，达到预防和减少环境污染及生态破坏的目的。文章采用文献研究和案例分析方法，依托现有司法解释作为法律依据，结合实际案例，对生态环境侵权惩罚性赔偿机制进行了全面审视和详细分析。文章首先梳理惩罚性赔偿制度的基本理论，随后探讨该制度在我国生态环境侵权领域的适用现状、存在的问题及面临的挑战。最后，在借鉴域外经验的基础上，提出完善我国生态环境侵权惩罚性赔偿制度的建议，以期为司法实践提供有益的参考。With the increasing severity of ecological and environmental issues, traditional homogeneous compensation mechanisms have struggled to comprehensively address the damages caused by environmental pollution and ecological destruction, with their effectiveness gradually diminishing. Against this backdrop, punitive damages, as a stricter form of legal liability, have been introduced into the field of ecological and environmental torts. This aims to enhance the deterrence of infringing acts, thereby preventing and reducing environmental pollution and ecological harm. Employing literature review and case analysis methods, this paper conducts a comprehensive examination and detailed analysis of the punitive damages mechanism in ecological and environmental torts, grounded in existing judicial interpretations as legal foundations and supported by practical cases. The article first outlines the basic theory of the punitive damages system, then explores its current application status, existing challenges, and unresolved issues in China’s ecological and environmental tort domain. Finally, drawing on extraterritorial experiences, it proposes recommendations to refine China’s punitive damages system for ecological and environmental torts, offering actionable insights for judicial practice.