A draft of the environmental code has been submitted to an ongoing session of the country’s top legislature for a first reading. The draft code includes 10 existing laws related to ecological and environmental protection, such as the Environmental Protection Law, the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and the Law on Atmospheric Pollution Prevention and Control, Shen Chunyao, Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. (NPC) said. Key principles from current laws on river basin management, natural resources and biodiversity protection have also been incorporated or reflected in the draft code. Although China has yet to enact dedicated laws on tackling climate change, peaking carbon dioxide emissions, achieving carbon neutrality and promoting low-carbon development, the draft code includes directive provisions on these issues, he said. These provisions aim to establish basic principles and lay a foundation for future legislation.
The draft stipulates that the government should strengthen monitoring of greenhouse gases and the climate system, and release related monitoring information. It will be China's second code following the Civil Code adopted in 2020. “The new code is not simply a legal compilation, nor is it entirely new legislation,” Shen said. Rather, it is a systematic integration, compilation, revision and enhancement of China’s existing laws, institutions, rules and norms for ecological and environmental protection. The draft stresses the integrated protection of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, considering eco-environmental elements such as the atmosphere, water and soil, Shen said. Despite significant achievements in promoting ecological civilization, China still faces a challenging ecological and environmental situation, with a range of emerging issues, he said.
Huang Haihua, Spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission, added that Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization has provided fundamental guidance for compiling the code. He said the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” has become deeply rooted in people’s hearts, driving demands for stringent systems and robust legal frameworks to safeguard the ecological environment. Since the 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, China has established a comprehensive legislative framework for ecological and environmental protection, encompassing more than 30 national laws, over 100 national administrative regulations, and more than 1,000 regional regulations, the China Daily reports.
