The draft Ecological and Environmental Code is open for public comment until June 30. This unified code compiles 10 existing laws and regulations related to ecological and environmental protection.  The draft code includes sections on pollution prevention, ecological conservation, and green, low-carbon development. Notably, it introduces a legal framework for climate policy areas not yet covered by existing laws such as decarbonization.

Our take:

This is China's first-ever environmental code, which will provide a clearer legal foundation for the country's green transition and strengthen its enforcement. Notably, the often separately treated topics of decarbonization and environment protection arenow put together in the code. The new section on low-carbon development could also be note worthy, since it establishes new legal and regulatory frameworks for clean manufacturing, recycling, energy conservation, and international climate cooperation.

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生态环境法典（草案）征求意见