China's new Ecological Environment Code: A 'legal cornerstone' for a Beautiful China
准确把握生态环境法典的基本精神和实践要求
A commentary in People's Daily outlines the rationale and requirements for implementing China's new Ecological Environment Code, which took effect on August 15, 2026. The article frames the code as the second law to be designated a 'code' after the Civil Code and a comprehensive legal embodiment of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. It details the code's five-part structure, its integration of existing environmental laws, and its pioneering inclusion of a chapter on green, low-carbon development, including carbon neutrality targets.
The view from inside
The piece presents the code as a crowning achievement of Xi Jinping Thought, transforming policy doctrine into binding law to 'consolidate the legal foundation for building a Beautiful China'.
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