Core Viewpoint - The draft of the "Ecological Environment Code" is presented for review, marking China's second law named as a "code" after the Civil Code, aimed at promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature [1] Summary by Sections General Principles - The draft consists of five parts, with the General Principles section outlining important legal principles and comprehensive legal systems applicable to other sections, comprising 143 articles [2][3] - The legislative purpose is to protect the ecological environment, prevent pollution, ensure public health, and promote green development [3] Pollution Prevention - The Pollution Prevention section includes provisions for air, water, marine, soil, and solid waste pollution, totaling 525 articles [4] - It integrates existing pollution prevention laws and regulations, focusing on specific pollutants [4][10] Ecological Protection - The Ecological Protection section emphasizes a systematic protection approach, covering ecosystem protection, natural resource conservation, species protection, and important geographical unit protection, with 265 articles [5][6] - It aims to address ecological degradation and restoration while ensuring sustainable use of natural resources [6] Green Low-Carbon Development - The Green Low-Carbon Development section focuses on critical areas related to ecological protection, establishing legal frameworks for circular economy, energy conservation, and climate change response, comprising 113 articles [6] - This section is unique to China's ecological environment code, highlighting its value in promoting new development concepts [6] Legal Responsibilities and Appendices - The Legal Responsibilities and Appendices section outlines general rules, penalties, and additional provisions, consisting of 142 articles [6] - It establishes legal responsibilities for the prohibitive and obligatory provisions in the previous sections [6] Systematic Integration of Existing Laws - The code aims to systematically integrate over 30 existing environmental laws and more than 100 administrative regulations, addressing inconsistencies and conflicts among them [7][10] - It categorizes existing laws into three treatment types: full integration, selective incorporation, and new provisions for emerging legal needs [8][9] Practical Implications - The draft provides a comprehensive legal basis for pollution prevention, enhancing the protection of public ecological interests [10][13] - It incorporates effective pollution prevention practices into legal provisions, filling existing legal gaps and guiding future legislation [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - The draft of the "Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China" was presented for the first review at the 15th meeting of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee, marking a significant step in the legal framework for ecological civilization and environmental protection in China [1][2]. Group 1: Legislative Framework - The Ecological Environment Code consists of five parts: General Principles, Pollution Prevention, Ecological Protection, Green Low-Carbon Development, and Legal Responsibilities, totaling 1188 articles [1]. - This code is the second law in China to be named a "code," following the Civil Code, and represents a major legal initiative by the central government to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature [1][2]. Group 2: Systematic Integration - The compilation of the Ecological Environment Code aims to address the fragmented nature of existing environmental laws, which have led to inconsistencies and inefficiencies in regulatory frameworks [2]. - The code will not only compile existing laws but also integrate and innovate the legal system to enhance its systematic, holistic, and timely nature, adapting to new challenges and requirements [2][3]. Group 3: Focus Areas - The code will encompass comprehensive laws related to ecological protection and pollution prevention, while also addressing critical areas of green low-carbon development and climate change [3]. - It aims to incorporate essential legal norms related to water basins, natural resources, biodiversity, and circular economy, ensuring the code remains open and compatible with future developments [3].

Group 1 - The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) focused on various legislative proposals, including the draft law on promoting the development of the private economy, which aims to enhance legal protections for labor rights and create a favorable legal environment for high-quality development of the private sector [2] - The revision of the Infectious Disease Prevention Law was discussed, emphasizing the responsibilities of health authorities and improving measures for epidemic control and medical institution capabilities [2] - The draft amendment to the Atomic Energy Law was presented, highlighting the importance of a rational and coordinated approach to nuclear safety and promoting the application of nuclear technology in various fields [2] - The revision of the Arbitration Law was also reviewed, which includes provisions for enhancing international cooperation in arbitration and improving the support system for arbitration by courts [2] Group 2 - The compilation of the Ecological Environment Code is a significant legal initiative aimed at integrating existing environmental laws and reflecting Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thought [3] - The State Council proposed a draft law on national development planning to enhance macroeconomic governance and ensure the implementation of national development strategies [3] - A draft amendment to the Prison Law was introduced to improve prison safety and the quality of education and rehabilitation for inmates [3] - The State Council also presented a proposal for adjusting the Seed Law regulations in the Xinjiang Free Trade Zone [3] Group 3 - The meeting included discussions on international treaties, such as the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons with Ethiopia and the judicial cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia [4] - The report on the 2024 environmental status indicated that all ecological quality improvement targets were met, with public satisfaction exceeding 90% for four consecutive years [4] - The report on state-owned asset management for 2023 highlighted the handling of audit findings and the implementation of corrective measures [4]

Core Viewpoint - The compilation of the Ecological Environment Code in China has made significant progress, with the draft submitted for the first review by the National People's Congress, consisting of 1188 articles divided into five sections, addressing various aspects of ecological protection and legal responsibilities [1][2][3]. Summary by Relevant Sections Compilation Structure - The Ecological Environment Code draft includes five sections: General Principles, Pollution Prevention, Ecological Protection, Green Low-Carbon Development, and Legal Responsibilities and Supplementary Provisions, aiming for a comprehensive legal framework [1][2]. - The draft emphasizes a systematic protection approach, integrating existing laws and focusing on green low-carbon development and ecological sustainability [2][4]. Legal Integration and Innovation - The compilation adopts a moderate codification model, systematically integrating over 30 existing ecological environment laws, enhancing the overall coherence and effectiveness of the legal framework [4][5]. - The draft addresses legal gaps related to climate change, carbon neutrality, and green development, establishing guiding principles that reflect contemporary and forward-looking legal needs [3][5]. Relationship with Other Legal Frameworks - The Ecological Environment Code is positioned as the second codified law in China, complementing the Civil Code, with both laws sharing a common goal of promoting sustainable development and ecological protection [6][7]. - While the Civil Code focuses on relationships between individuals, the Ecological Environment Code emphasizes the relationship between humans and nature, aiming for comprehensive environmental protection through various regulatory mechanisms [7]. Judicial Recommendations - The "Rule of Law Blue Book" suggests using the compilation of the Ecological Environment Code as an opportunity to establish a centralized jurisdiction system for environmental resource trials across administrative regions, addressing current legal inconsistencies [8][10]. - The proposal includes creating specialized environmental trial institutions based on ecological zones, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental justice [11].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article emphasizes the legislative focus for 2025, particularly in enhancing the legal framework for the socialist market economy and promoting private sector development [1][2][3] - Key laws to be formulated include the Private Economy Promotion Law, National Development Planning Law, and Financial Law, which aim to strengthen the legal environment for economic activities [1][3] - Amendments to existing laws such as the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, Bankruptcy Law, and Banking Supervision Law are also highlighted, indicating a comprehensive approach to legal reform [1][4] Group 2 - The report outlines the intention to advance legislation in social and cultural areas, including the Law on Legal Education and the Childcare Services Law, reflecting a commitment to social welfare [1][4] - Additional legislative efforts will focus on public health and safety, with laws such as the Public Health Emergency Response Law and Food Safety Law being prioritized for modification [5][6] - The ongoing work on the compilation of the Ecological Environment Code and the establishment of a National Park Law indicates a strong emphasis on environmental protection and sustainability [5]