In a landmark step for green policy, China has unveiled the draft of its first-ever environmental code during the ongoing NPC session. The 1,188-article blueprint spans five chapters, from general provisions to legal liability, flooding the stage for a new era of ecological legislation.
Once adopted, this will become China's second formal statutory code after the Civil Code of 2020. Launched in 2023, the codification effort aims to integrate decades of environmental laws under one roof, streamline enforcement and plug existing gaps in the legal framework.
Environmental expert Wang Canfa from China University of Political Science and Law highlights that the code will elevate the authority of eco laws, making compliance more convenient and ensuring a more systematic approach to pollution prevention and ecological protection.
In 2024, China achieved a 2.7% drop in PM2.5 levels in major cities, with an average concentration of 29.3 µg/m³. The country also planted 4.45 million hectares of new forests and improved 3.22 million hectares of grassland, reflecting its ongoing investment in air quality and green coverage.
The draft outlines ambitious green and low-carbon development goals, embedding climate change mitigation and adaptation principles alongside international cooperation commitments. It also details targeted measures for air, water, soil and noise pollution, as well as controls on chemical substances and electromagnetic radiation.
An entire chapter is dedicated to ecological protection, calling for enhanced conservation of forests, grasslands, wetlands, seas and marine islands, rivers, lakes, deserts, snow-capped mountains, glaciers and croplands. Major restoration projects are set to safeguard these ecosystems.
The unique green and low-carbon development chapter sets this code apart from global peers, underlining China's new development philosophy. Vice chairperson Lyu Zhongmei believes this approach will offer a legislative model for sustainable progress worldwide.
Lawmakers will review the draft during the April 27-30 session. If passed, the environmental code could become a landmark achievement in global ecological governance, shaping the future of green policy both at home and beyond.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
