(Global Pensions) - China should ask its 777bn yuan (US$115bn) national pension fund to demand more corporate disclosure on the environment as accidents in the past month polluted rivers and the sea, a responsible investment group said.

Better coordination is also needed between stock exchanges in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen and the China Securities Regulatory Commission to ensure compliance by companies, according to the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia.

An acid leak at Zijin Mining Group Co.'s copper and gold mine this month poisoned enough fish in the Ting River to feed 72,000 people for a year, and Dalian's beaches and port were closed by an oil spill at the nation's largest crude terminal.

Environmental accidents jumped 98% in the first six months of the year, as rapid economic growth takes its toll, the environmental protection ministry said.

"The government must encourage investors, namely Chinese pension funds, to be world class investors which demand greater corporate and social disclosure," said Dave Dore, the research manager at the association. "Their role as universal owner means that requiring greater disclosure is in their own interests."

For more on the Global Pensions article, visit: http://www.globalpensions.com/global-pensions/news/1725645/china-pension-funds-environment

[ASrIA editor note: Read ASrIA Editorial: Two Environmental Accidents in China Illustrate that Disclosure Needs Three Not Two to Tango. In response to the acid leakage, Christine Loh, Chief Executive of Civic Exchange, also has an insightful editorial in the South China Morning Post, July 30, entitled “Toxic fallout.” She calls on Hong Kong NGOs, stock exchange officials and regulators to take a more active role in addressing corporate environmental disclosure concerns.]