论环境侵权诉讼中证明责任倒置的实现

在中国法语境中讨论环境侵权因果关系的证明责任问题,出发点只能是证明责任倒置,而非因果关系推定。因果关系证明责任倒置的规定在理论上遭遇广泛批评,司法实践中也逐渐形成了“权利人证明关联性存在,污染者证明因果关系不存在”的变异方案,但该方案缺乏理论依据,且无法清晰划分当事人的证明负担。解决问题的关键是厘清因果关系要件的内涵,让“污染物到达”这一要素回归加害行为要件。由此形成的证明责任分配方案,不但完美匹配现行法的规范目的,也足以满足司法实践对于操作性和可预测性的需求。

The starting point of discussing the causation of environmental torts cases in the context of Chinese law is about the reversal of burden of proof,not the determination of causation.The theory of reversal of burden of proof has met widespread criticism,and the judicial practice also contributed to a compromise mechanism,which means the right holder proves the existence of correlation and the polluter proves the non-existence of causation.This lacks theoretical basis and fails to clearly define the burden of proof.The key to this issue is the meaning of the causation requirements,and take the"arrival of pollutants"as an element consisting the tortious act.This arrangement of burden of proof can not only suit normative purpose of the current law but also meet the demands of practicability and predictability in judicial practices.