Kathmandu— China officially implemented its new Ecological and Environmental Code on Saturday, marking a significant step towards strengthening the legal basis for ecological protection and sustainable development. Adopted in March as the nation's second statutory code after the Civil Code, the comprehensive document comprises 1,242 articles across five chapters addressing pollution control, ecological preservation, and green, low-carbon initiatives. The code aims to integrate over 30 laws, 100 administrative regulations, and 1,000 local statutes into a unified system, providing legal impetus for China’s ‘Beautiful China’ initiative and its transition towards a greener economy.

Consolidating Decades of Environmental Law

The new code represents a systematic integration of existing environmental legislation, bringing together decades of laws and regulations that were previously fragmented. Analysts note that this consolidation addresses a key obstacle in China’s ecological governance – the lack of synergy between different legal frameworks. Qin Tianbao, a professor at Wuhan University, described it as “a historic shift in the logic of China's ecological and environmental governance,” moving from disjointed management to systematic oversight. Xu Xufen, a judge at the Intermediate People's Court of Huzhou City, emphasized that the code provides clearer guidance for handling ecological and resource protection cases.

Progress Towards Improved Environmental Quality

The strengthened legal framework builds upon years of environmental efforts already yielding positive results. China has seen significant improvements in air quality, with average PM2.5 concentrations falling to 28 micrograms per cubic meter in major cities by 2025 – the lowest level since monitoring began – and good air quality days reaching 89.3 percent. The country also boasts over 25% national forest coverage, contributing approximately one quarter of the world’s newly afforested areas this century. Innovations like the river, lake, and forest chief systems, as well as central environmental protection inspections, have been incorporated into the code to further enhance these gains.

Aligning Economic Growth with Environmental Protection

The Ecological and Environmental Code dedicates a chapter to green and low-carbon development, signaling a commitment to aligning economic progress with ecological preservation. Hou Jiaru, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, explained that this approach embodies the philosophy of “development through protection and protection through development.” This is reflected in initiatives such as the cultivation of over 8,000 national-level green factories, the construction of the world’s largest clean power supply system, and the establishment of a carbon emissions trading market.

Sharing Green Solutions Globally

China is also actively sharing its experiences in green development with other nations. Examples include a water-saving terraced farming model replicated in Egypt to conserve water and support agriculture, and the implementation of photovoltaic technology in Saudi Arabia to harness solar power. The code further emphasizes international cooperation on ecological protection, calling for strengthened collaboration and fulfillment of obligations under international treaties. Analysts suggest that this marks a transition for China from participant to leader in global environmental governance.

Looking ahead, China’s State Council has issued a plan for building a Beautiful China during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), aiming for continued improvement in ecological and environmental quality and the achievement of carbon peaking targets.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.