Nation promotes rule of law for environment

The English edition of a think tank report examining China's innovations in environmental legislation and their contributions to global environmental governance was released on Wednesday at the China Pavilion during the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP17.

Titled "China's Innovations and Global Contributions Through the Ecological and Environmental Code", the report was unveiled at an event showcasing research on China's progress in advancing the Beautiful China initiative.

The event was organized by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization at the China Pavilion in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. COP17 runs from Monday to Oct 30.

Addressing the event, Yu Hai, deputy director of the center, said the Ecological and Environmental Code has established a scientific and comprehensive modern legal framework for eco-environmental governance.

The code represents China's law-based response to global environmental challenges and offers legal insights and practical experience for international environmental governance and cooperation, he said.

China's top legislature adopted the code on March 12, and it took effect on Aug 15. It consolidates major legal provisions covering pollution prevention and control, ecological conservation, green and low-carbon development, legal liabilities and other areas.

Yu said the report's release coincides with COP17, which is set to conduct the first global review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Adopted under China's presidency of COP15 in late 2022, the framework sets four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented global targets for 2030. Among its targets, it calls for at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, marine and coastal ecosystems to be under effective restoration by 2030.

"The rule of law provides essential support for turning a shared vision of ecological and environmental conservation into lasting institutional safeguards," Yu said.

He said the report systematically explains China's innovations in environmental legislation and provides a platform for exchanging ideas and sharing experience with the international community.

The report was jointly compiled by researchers from the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, Xinhua Institute and the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.

The English edition of another think tank report, titled Progress and Achievements in Building a Beautiful Countryside in China, was also released at the China Pavilion during the event. It was jointly compiled by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China Daily and China Environment News.

houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn