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10 existing laws, including the Environmental Protection Law and the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, have been repealed.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

"Many environmental laws in Western countries focus largely on end-of-pipe treatment, while China's code goes further by incorporating the green transformation of development and consumption," said Qin Tianbao, director of the Research Institute of Environmental Law at Wuhan University.

It promotes green consumption, the recycling of waste and coordinated green transformation across supply chains, turning the principles of ecological priority and green development into rules that apply across society, Qin said.

The code also contains a dedicated section on climate change. Yu said it provides a legal framework for addressing climate change and is one of the code's major innovations.

From protecting ecosystems to addressing problems "at the doorstep"

"This code has an important feature that cares about environmental problems at people's doorstep," said Zhu Xiao, a professor at Renmin University of China.

It responds to issues including light pollution, electromagnetic radiation, noise, cooking fumes and unpleasant odors.

For example, instead of relying solely on treating cooking-fume pollution after it occurs, the code calls for preventive measures at the planning and registration stages of businesses, including restrictions on where certain businesses can be located.

It also introduces provisions addressing "human-wildlife conflicts." When wild animals pose an immediate threat to personal safety, people who take necessary measures that cause damage may be exempt from liability under the law.

In this sense, the code is not only about forests, rivers and other large-scale ecosystems. It also addresses environmental problems that people encounter in their daily lives.

Stronger enforcement, clearer accountability

The code also seeks to make environmental rules more enforceable by strengthening legal liability while avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to punishment.

"In the past, some environmental violations carried low costs, leading some people to take their chances. A core goal of the legal liability chapter is to address this problem," said Sun Youhai, a professor at Tianjin University.

The code sets different liabilities according to the type of violator and the consequences of the violation.

For example, if a local government fails to perform its legal duties, resulting in serious environmental problems or deterioration in environmental conditions in its jurisdiction, its officials may face disciplinary action or other measures.

Different legal liabilities are also prescribed for companies and other operators engaged in the illegal collection, storage, use or disposal of hazardous waste.

At the same time, the code addresses regulatory gaps involving technical service providers in areas such as soil pollution assessment, pollution-control facility operations and hazardous-waste identification, making responsibilities clearer along the enforcement chain.

From addressing individual pollution problems to coordinating pollution control, ecosystem protection and green development, China's Ecological and Environmental Code seeks to establish a more integrated framework for environmental governance, shaping greener business practices, strengthening government accountability and improving the environment people experience in their everyday lives.

(With input from Xinhua)