Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People’s Court, called on courts throughout the country to fully implement the Ecological and Environmental Code to contribute to the building of a beautiful China with high-quality judicial services.

Zhang made the remarks in a speech delivered at a recent conference on communicating the guiding principles of the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which were held in Beijing in March, to courts nationwide.

The landmark Ecological and Environmental Code was adopted on March 12 at this year’s NPC session, laying a solid legal cornerstone for pursuing Chinese modernization with the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature as a distinctive feature. It is China's second formal statutory code, following the adoption of the Civil Code in 2020, set to take effect on Aug 15. This comprehensive legal framework aims to enhance the quality of judicial protection for China's ecological environment and facilitate the country's transition to a green economy.

Addressing the meeting, Zhang emphasized the critical role of courts in implementing the code, saying that courts must play a leading role in understanding and applying the code's principles and provisions, ensuring its seamless integration into China's judicial system.

He said that courts need to get a systematic understanding of the code's legislative background and intent, align judicial policies with its principles, and develop supporting judicial interpretations to ensure smooth enforcement of the code. This includes a comprehensive review and adjustment of existing legal documents related to environmental protection, he added.

Zhang underlined the need for courts to accurately enforce the code to support the nation's efforts in advancing ecological civilization, protect the environmental rights and interests of the public, and promote a comprehensive green transition of economic and social development. 

He stressed the need to implement the code's requirements for developing specialized mechanisms for ecological and environmental adjudication. Courts need to enhance the integrated handling of criminal, civil and administrative environmental cases and improve judicial cooperation across regions and river basins, he said.

Zhang urged courts to organize extensive training programs on the new code, utilize digital platforms to enhance accessibility and effectiveness, and analyze and publicize typical cases to enhance public awareness of the code.

He also called on courts throughout the country to firmly establish and practice a correct understanding of governance performance, and take solid steps to implement the Ecological and Environmental Code, in a bid to provide robust judicial support for building a beautiful China and ensure a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).