On October 19th, coinciding with the 5th anniversary of the proposal of the“dual carbon” goals (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals) and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the United Nations Climate Change Summit, the 3rd China Dual Carbon Rule of Law Forum was successfully held in the Wenquan Building Lecture Hall.Co-hosted by our university, the National Carbon Emission Rights Registration and Settlement Corporation (China Carbon Registration), and the Environmental and Resources Law Research Association of Hubei Law Society, the forum was organized by the Institute of Dual Carbon Rule of Law and Economy(a Hubei Provincial Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences) and the Law School. Over 100 experts and scholars from state organs including the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment; renowned universities and research institutions such as Tsinghua University, Wuhan University, Xiamen University, and China University of Political Science and Law; and practical sectors including enterprises, public institutions, and law firms gathered toexchange insights onnew pathways for the rule of law guarantee in achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The forum’s theme was“Dual Carbon Goals and Codification of Ecological and Environmental Law: Practical Innovation and Legislative Development.”
At the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Wang Hongling, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Vice-Chairperson of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC; You Quanrong, Secretary of Party Leadership Group and President of the Higher People’s Court of Hubei Province; Hou Zhenfa, Secretary of the CPCZUEL committee; and Zeng Xin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Hubei Hongtai Group Co., Ltd. The ceremony was hosted by Hou Meng, Academic Dean of the Law School of ZUEL.
Hou Zhenfa pointed out that ZUEL attaches great importance to conforming to dual carbongoals and thoroughly implements the Opinions on Strengthening Legal Education and Legal Theory Research in the New Era issued by the General Office of the CentralCommitteeof Communist Party of China (CPC)and the General Office of the State Council, PRC. ZUEL is committed to promoting the construction of an independent knowledge system for China’s climate law and advancing the rule of law for dual carbon goals.
This forum focuses on the inherent connection between dual carbon goals and the ecological and environmental code compilation. It explores institutional guarantees through the code for green low-carbon development, climate change response, and the achievement of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and is highly significant for advancing the realization of dual carbon goals.
Speech byWang Hongling, Member of the CPPCCNational National Committee Standing Committee and Vice-Chairperson of the Hubei Provincial CPPCC
Speech by You Quanrong, Secretary of Party Leadership Group and President of the Higher People's Court of Hubei Province
Speech byHou Zhenfa, Secretary of theCPCZUEL committee
Speech byZeng Xin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Hubei Hongtai Group Co., Ltd
At the opening ceremony, several events were also held, including the launch of China Dual Carbon Rule of Law Development Report (2023-2024) and the textbook Climate Law, the inauguration of the China Dual Carbon Rule of Law Database, and the establishment of the Alliance for Constructing China’s Independent Knowledge System of Climate Law. These events garnered widespread media attention.
The keynote report was chaired by Chen Qi, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Hubei Higher People’s Court. Jiang Bixin, Vice Chairman of the Constitution and Law Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress and former Deputy Party Secretary and Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court; Sun Qian, Third-Level Senior Judge of the Environmental and Resources Division of the Supreme People’s Court; Wang Li, Second-Level Researcher of the Carbon Market Division under the Department of Climate Change Response of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment; and Gao Lihong, Director of the Institute of Environmental and Resource Law at ZUEL, delivered keynote speeches respectively on:“The Legal Responsibility and Mission of Building a Unified National Carbon Market,” “Promoting Comprehensive Green Transformation by Legally Serving Carbon Market Development,” “China’s Carbon Trading Legislation: Practice and Outlook,” and “The Justice Imbalance in the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and China’s Response.”
The forum set up three breakout sessions, where over forty experts and scholars conducted in-depth discussions on topics including “Climate Change Issues in the Compilation of the Ecological Code,” “Legal Challenges in Building a Nationwide Unified Carbon Market,” and “Judicial Safeguards for Climate Change Governance.”
It is reported that the China Dual Carbon Legal Forum, initiated by the Dual Carbon Legal Research Base jointly established by our university, the Hubei Provincial High People’s Court, and the China Carbon Emissions Registration and Clearing Co.,LTD, has been held in Wuhan for three consecutive years. The research findings and practical consensus released at the forum continue to influence the development of China’s dual carbon legal framework.
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Reporter: Li Shiqi