China's first Environmental Protection Code has been officially implemented, contributing a legal framework to global ecological governance.

On August 15, China’s first codification law titled “Ecological Environment Law” – the Ecological Environment Law of the People’s Republic of China – came into force. This code consolidates legislative provisions previously scattered across more than 30 ecological and environmental laws, over 100 administrative regulations, and more than 1,000 local regulations into a unified legal framework, comprising five parts and 1,242 articles.

The Code employs a logical framework of “general provisions as the overarching guidance, specialized sections as supporting mechanisms, and accountability safeguards as a guarantee,” integrating pollution prevention and control, ecological conservation, green and low-carbon development, and accountability mechanisms into a unified institutional framework. Within its provisions on green and low-carbon development, a dedicated chapter addresses the circular economy, covering areas such as clean production, waste recycling, and green consumption. Article 998 of the Code explicitly prohibits or restricts the production, sale, or use of non-degradable plastic bags and other single-use plastic products, while encouraging the promotion and adoption of alternative products that are recyclable, easily recoverable, biodegradable, and harmless. Some scholars have noted that the implementation of this Code marks a new phase in the legal and large-scale development of the circular economy sector, driving the transition of the circular economy from end-of-life waste recycling to a systematic carbon reduction strategy that spans the entire product lifecycle—from design and production to consumption, recycling, and utilization.

On the same day the Code came into force, the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency released a think tank report titled “China’s Innovation and Global Contribution to the Ecological and Environmental Law Code.” The report sparked extensive discussions among experts from numerous countries. Qin Hu, Vice President of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, stated that the report holds significant importance for countries around the world in understanding China’s efforts to systematically address pollution prevention and control, as well as to advance ecological conservation and climate action. Hantanović, Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, remarked that China’s Ecological and Environmental Law Code further integrates ecological and environmental protection into a legal and institutional framework, which is of great significance for improving the ecological and environmental governance system and also serves as a reference for other nations. Sam Gill, Associate Research Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in the UK, noted that China’s comprehensive and systematic approach to building its ecological and environmental legal framework is of considerable value; by dedicating a separate chapter to “Green and Low-Carbon Development” and a dedicated chapter on “Addressing Climate Change,” the Code provides a valuable model for other countries seeking to accelerate their green and low-carbon transition. Elena Razafindramaro, an expert from Madagascar, observed that the Code incorporates environmental governance across the entire process, forming a relatively complete institutional framework. Gaston Kouo, an environmental protection expert from Côte d’ Ivoire, emphasized that China has consistently maintained consistency between its policies and actions in the field of ecological and environmental protection over an extended period.

China’s global contributions to the field of ecological and environmental protection are widely recognized. Since 2012, China has afforested more than 1.1 billion mu of land, accounting for approximately 25% of the world’s newly added green area – making it the country that has contributed the most and at the fastest pace to global greening efforts. By 2025, the average national PM2.5 concentration is expected to drop to 28.0 μg/m³, and the main stream of the Yangtze River will maintain Class II water quality for six consecutive years. China’s forest coverage rate has reached 25.09%. Yasmin Fouad, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, remarked: “China has become one of the clearest and largest-scale examples of reversing land degradation.”

China has established the world’s largest renewable energy system. The share of China’s renewable energy installed capacity within its total power generation installed capacity has exceeded 60%. Over the past decade, China’s newly added wind and photovoltaic installed capacity has accounted for approximately 60% of the global total; through technological innovation, this has driven the global cost of wind and solar power generation down by more than 60% and 80%, respectively. China’s investment in the clean energy transition sector exceeds US$800 billion, representing over one-third of global investment in this area. China’s contribution to the growth of global renewable energy installed capacity amounts to 63.6%. Wind power, photovoltaic products, and new energy vehicle products are exported to more than 200 countries and regions, transforming the green transition from a “luxury item” into an “essential commodity” accessible to all nations. Many officials and experts interviewed across various countries believe that China has charted an effective path for developing countries pursuing green and low-carbon development, demonstrating that economic growth and ecological conservation can complement each other.

China’s rapid progress in the field of ecological conservation is firmly underpinned by its institutional advantages. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China identified the improvement of green and low-carbon development mechanisms as a key component of deepening the reform of the ecological civilization system. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan is guided by the goals of achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, coordinating efforts to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate pollution, expand green spaces, and foster economic growth. In July 2026, the “15th Five-Year Plan for Building a Beautiful China” was issued, setting clear targets: by 2030, the overall quality of the ecological environment will be comprehensively improved, and the carbon peaking goal will be achieved as scheduled. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan establishes rigorous targets: the PM2.5 concentration in cities at or above the prefectural level shall be reduced to below 27 micrograms per cubic meter; the proportion of days with good air quality shall reach 85%; and the proportion of surface water bodies with good quality across the country shall reach 85%. Meanwhile, the “National 15th Five-Year Plan for Addressing Climate Change” proposes that by 2030, carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP shall be reduced by 17% compared to 2025 levels.

At the financial level, China is committed to harnessing institutional efficiency and market vitality. China has established the world’s largest carbon emissions trading market and played a key role in establishing the Kunming Biodiversity Fund; it has approved and implemented 31 projects, benefiting 45 developing countries. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, stated that green development is a distinctive feature of Chinese modernization. As noted in the report, the Code embodies the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind; it is grounded in China’s national conditions while systematically addressing the common challenges faced by all humanity—such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution—thereby enriching the global institutional framework for ecological and environmental governance.