19 August 2026 – The 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a binding multilateral environmental agreement that has done more to protect Earth than any other agreement. During its nearly 40 years of operation, this treaty has: Ten years ago, governments adopted the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, […]

4 August 2026 – China released the 15th Five-Year National Climate Change Response Plan (the “15th Climate Plan”) on 27 July 2026. Co-issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and 18 other national ministries and agencies, the Climate Plan outlines China’s priorities for climate mitigation, adaptation, carbon markets, greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, and international […]

04 August 2026 – On 26 June 2026, China’s National Energy Administration issued the Action Plan for Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in the Energy Sector (2026-2028) (hereinafter called the “Energy and Carbon Action Plan”), which aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, expand non-fossil energy sources, and promote low- and zero-carbon development across […]

27 July 2026 – Over the past two years, three advisory opinions on climate change clarified state obligations under international law: the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Advisory Opinion on Climate Change and the Law of the Sea (May, 2024); the Inter-American Court of Human Rights Advisory Opinion OC-32/25 on Human Rights […]

13 July 2026 – China released the 15th Five-Year Plan for Building a Beautiful China (the “Beautiful China Plan”) on 3 July 2026. Building upon the 15th Five-Year Framework Plan for National Economic and Social Development (the “Framework Plan”), the Beautiful China Plan details an implementation agenda covering pollution control, climate mitigation, ecological protection, monitoring, […]

12 July 2026 – China issued its 15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New Energy System (“Energy Plan”) on June 13, 2026. The Energy Plan sets out China’s priorities for upgrading the energy system during 2026–2030, with an emphasis on energy security, non-fossil energy deployment, infrastructure modernization, and low-carbon development. According to China’s 2024 Biennial […]

Introduction and Overview On May 5, 2026, China’s State Council promulgated the Overseas Investment Regulation, which enters into effect on July 1, 2026. Beyond the legal details discussed below, the Overseas Investment Regulation is part of a key trend: China is increasingly sensitive to how overseas stakeholders perceive Chinese investment and export dominance. It also […]

On 24 February 2026, the Government of Himachal Pradesh launched the state’s first comprehensive emissions assessment and policy roadmap to tackle short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and other non-CO₂ emissions, in a ceremony held in Shimla. The report, Tackling Non-CO₂ Emissions: Pathways for Himachal Pradesh, establishes a 2019 emissions baseline and models sector-specific pathways through 2047. The report […]

On 26 November 2025, the Chinese government launched the Industry–Academia–Research Alliance for Controlling Industrial-Sector Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions in Beijing. The National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation (under the China Ministry of Ecology and Environment) initiated the Alliance, together with the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association, the China Chemical Energy Conservation Technology Association, […]

Washington, D.C., 3 November 2025 — Irreversible climate destruction is a peremptory violation of international law. This unprecedented legal determination, alongside the explicit recognition of the right to a healthy climate and Nature as a subject of rights, is among the conclusions highlighted in the new publication, Climate Justice and Human Rights: Legal Standards and […]

3 November 2025 – Today, China submitted its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The submission reaffirms China’s 2035 NDC targets as announced by President Xi Jinping at the United Nations Climate Summit in September 2025. Additionally, it lists specific quantitative targets on non-CO2 GHGs. Key quantitative […]

On October 29, 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) held its monthly press conference. Against the backdrop of the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), MEE stated that China will play a constructive role and support Brazil COP30 presidency. MEE noted that […]