At the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, Chinese lawmakers are set to deliberate a draft environmental code to solidify the legal foundation for modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. Spokesperson Lou Qinjian said on Wednesday that the code will make environmental legislation more systematic, integrated, coordinated, and timely. China's environmental legal system has basically taken shape, supported by an institutional framework for ecological conservation.
On Wednesday, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, stated at a press conference that an environmental code will further forge a solid legal foundation for China to achieve modernization with harmony between humanity and nature. As China enters a stage of high-quality economic and social development featuring green and low-carbon transitions, there is a vital need for the strictest institutions and the most rigorous rule of law to protect the environment and drive green development.
Lou noted that China's environmental legal system has basically taken shape, alongside an institutional framework supporting ecological conservation. The environmental code is expected to make legislation in this field more systematic, integrated, coordinated, and timely.
This initiative reflects China's broader green development trajectory. Since 2014, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized environmental protection during the annual two sessions. For instance, on March 5, 2014, during deliberations with Shanghai deputies, he asked: "Compared with Beijing, how is the level of PM2.5 in Shanghai?" At the time, smog in Beijing was a global concern.
According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China's air quality reached its best level on record in 2025, with the average PM2.5 concentration dropping to 28 micrograms per cubic meter. In September 2020, Xi announced at the United Nations General Assembly that China aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
Christoph Nedopil Wang, a professor at Griffith University, said China's approach has shifted from reactive pollution control to proactive systemic economic transformation. Associate Professor Wang Xiaoli from the National Academy of Governance noted that green and low-carbon industries now account for more than 18 percent of GDP. In 2023, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference added an "environment and resources" sector, highlighting ecological priorities.
As 2026 marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the two sessions are expected to focus on green transition policies, including carbon peaking targets and control of new pollutants.
