论检察机关环境民事公益诉讼适用惩罚性赔偿的正当性

On the legitimacy of Applying Punitive Damages in Environmental Civil Public Interest Litigation by Procuratorial Organs

我国《民法典》第1232条关于环境侵权惩罚性赔偿的规定是否适用于检察机关提起的环境民事公益诉讼是理论与实务争议的焦点之一。目前,司法实践已通过裁判方式支持了检察机关环境民事公益诉讼适用惩罚性赔偿,但依然难以消解其在理论和法律适用上的争议。正当性是制度建构的基石。检察机关提起环境民事公益诉讼适用惩罚性赔偿的正当性论证从三个维度进行:在经验维度上,惩罚性赔偿具有民法典、司法解释和司法实践的认同性;在功能维度上,惩罚性赔偿具有赔偿、制裁和威慑功能的综合性;在理论维度上,惩罚性赔偿在检察权、环境权和诉的利益理论层面具有学理上的合理性。

Whether the punitive damages for environmental infringementin Article 1232 of the Civil Code of China is applicable to the environmental civil public interest litigation filed by the procuratorial organs is one of the focal points of theoretical and practical disputes.At present,judicial practice has supported the application of punitive damages in environmental civil public interest litigation by procuratorial organs through adjudication,but it is still difficult to resolve the disputes in theory and law application.Legitimacy is the cornerstone of system construction.The justification of the application of punitive damages in environmental civil public interest litigation by procuratorial organs is demonstrated from three dimensions:In the empirical dimension,punitive damages have the recognition of civil code and judicial practice;In the functional dimension,punitive damages have the comprehensive functions of compensation,sanction and deterrence;In the theoretical dimension,punitive damages have the theoretical rationality in the prosecutorial power,environmental rights and interests of litigation theory.