China's incoming Ecological and Environmental Code introduces a dedicated 'Green and low-carbon development' chapter that codifies the dual carbon objectives, carbon trading rules, and carbon footprint management systems. For solar and wind businesses, the code provides a legal basis for grid consumption guarantees while raising the compliance bar across project siting, development, and operations. Renewable energy companies must now embed the code's statutory green baseline into strategic planning and daily operations. Key areas include full lifecycle compliance, with new constraints on power station developments in ecologically sensitive areas like deserts and wetlands. Strategic environmental assessments will serve as references for project-level impact assessments, with greenhouse gas considerations now part of the legal framework. The article by Li Zhiheng of Kangda Law Firm outlines the tripartite mandate of pollution prevention, ecological protection, and green low-carbon transition. Companies in solar and wind sectors need to overhaul internal environmental compliance systems to meet these new obligations, making this a practical read for project developers and equipment manufacturers operating in China.
