China Releases Draft of Ecological and Environmental Protection Code, Aims to Consolidate Dozens of Existing Laws

On April 27, 2025, China’s National People’s Congress released a draft of the Ecological and Environmental Protection Code on its official website and began soliciting public feedback. The consultation period will remain open for 45 days from the date of publication.

If enacted, the code would become China’s second legal code after the Civil Code and would consolidate more than 30 existing environmental laws. The draft code consists of five parts and 1,188 articles, covering general principles, pollution prevention, ecological protection, green and low-carbon development, and legal responsibilities.