China's Ecological and Environmental Code: What will it change?

China took a major step toward green modernization on Saturday as its landmark Ecological and Environmental Code officially came into force, further strengthening the legal foundation for the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

Adopted by China's top legislature in March, the code is China's second formal statutory code after the Civil Code, and also the world's first code specifically dedicated to the ecological environment.

The code comprises 1,242 articles in five chapters, covering pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development, among other areas.

It was formulated through the systematic integration, compilation, revision and refinement of more than 30 ecological and environmental laws, over 100 administrative regulations, and more than 1,000 local laws and regulations.

From fragmented rules to a unified system Before the code was compiled, China had more than 30 laws covering different aspects of environmental protection.

Many were drafted around individual environmental elements and adopted or amended at different times, resulting in overlapping provisions, regulatory gaps and, in some cases, conflicting rules, said Yu Wenxuan, director of the Environmental Law Center at the China University of Political Science and Law.

With the code taking effect, 10 existing laws, including the Environmental Protection Law and the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, have been repealed.

"Through the compilation of the code, these legislative conflicts can be addressed and gaps filled, improving the legal system's consistency, coherence, coordination and timeliness," Yu said.

The code brings pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development into a single legal framework.

The three areas also correspond to the three major global environmental crises – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution – identified by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The code also sets out rules for implementing and monitoring environmental quality standards, including improvement plans, environmental impact assessments and pollutant discharge permits.

Oversight will involve government performance assessments, environmental inspections, legislative oversight and audits.

From end-of-pipe treatment to prevention at the source One of the code's most notable innovations is that it makes green and low-carbon development a standalone chapter, putting carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals on a legal footing and establishing key mechanisms including carbon emissions trading system and product carbon footprint management.

The move is intended to shift environmental governance from treating pollution after it occurs to preventing it at the source.