Chinese lawmakers to review draft environment protection code

A draft ecological environment code is ready to be reviewed for the first time by Chinese lawmakers during the upcoming session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, an official said.

Huang Haihua, spokesman for the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, told a news conference on Friday that the draft code is a systematic integration, compilation and codification of more than 30 currently effective environmental laws.

It also represents necessary institutional innovation to adapt to new situations and requirements in the environment and ecology, according to him.

The compilation of this code will enhance the systematic nature, integrity, coordination, and effectiveness of China's environmental protection legal system, he added.

"During the compilation, we've integrated all the comprehensive laws on environmental protection and laws related to pollution control into the code for revision," he explained.

"We've also selected the key principles from the current laws and regulations concerning river basins, regions, natural resources and biodiversity, as well as those related to circular economy and energy conservation, in the code to maintain its openness and compatibility," he said.

Additionally, the needs for green and low-carbon development, climate change response, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have been considered while formulating the code to fill legal gaps, he added.

The first piece of legislation titled a "code" in China is the Civil Code. It came into effect in January 2021, playing an important role in regulating civil activities.