Green design is becoming a cornerstone of China’s circular economy strategy, recognizing that up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage. Building on more than a decade of pilots and standards, China is shifting from resource efficiency toward designing products for durability, reuse, and recyclability.

New Green Design Guidelines issued in April 2026 establish a common framework for industry, outlining 11 core design principles, sector-specific guidance across 15 industries, and enabling measures including AI, standards, talent development, and international cooperation to accelerate the transition to greener manufacturing.

In May 2026, the General Office of the State Council and the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) respectively released their “2026 Legislative Work Plans”. The Plans outline the priorities for the State Council’s and NPCSC’s legislative work throughout the year, including legislative projects scheduled for review, drafting, amendment, or further research.

From an environmental and natural resources perspective, both Plans are particularly noteworthy, as they signal a number of regulations and legal revisions that are expected to be drafted, revised, or accelerated in 2026. These developments provide important insights into China’s environmental policy priorities and legislative direction in the coming years.

On 17 June 2025, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the Opinions on Comprehensively Promoting the Protection and Governance of Rivers and Lakes. This is China’s first top-level policy providing a unified framework for river and lake governance. It sets out six key areas and introduces three core subsystems for modern flood-disaster prevention. By 2035, the policy aims to strengthen flood control, safeguard drinking-water sources and restore aquatic ecosystems, while promoting water-related culture and improving governance mechanisms. It builds on the Yangtze (2021) and Yellow River (2022) Protection Laws.