China's first energy law takes effect, highlighting green, low-carbon development

China's first energy law came into effect on Wednesday, strengthening the legal basis for the energy sector, playing a role in ensuring national energy security, and promoting green and low-carbon transformation for the world's largest energy producer and consumer.

The Energy Law provides that China will continue to advance clean and low-carbon energy sector development by prioritizing the development and utilization of renewable energy, promoting clean and efficient utilization of fossil fuels, and improving the energy utilization efficiency.

The overarching national statute formally integrates hydrogen, previously classified as hazardous chemicals, into the energy management system.

"The Energy Law is the first Chinese national law to provide for hydrogen as a type of energy, clarifying its energy attribute and opening up chances to promote the development of the hydrogen energy business. The law also defines the legal significance of the Green Electricity Certificates and supports increased green electricity use throughout society," said Wan Jinsong, deputy head of the National Energy Administration.

The Green Electricity Certificates or GECs were piloted in 2017 to build a renewable electricity market-based mechanism in China.

GECs are the sole way to validate renewable energy production and consumption.

According to official figures, China had issued 3.55 billion GECs by October, 2024.

Wan said the Energy Law will promote the transformation of energy security.

"The Energy Law sets the order of importance for developing and using fossil fuels and renewable energy. It makes it clear that priority should be given to the development and utilization of renewable energy, and the ability to switch to non-fossil energy in a safe, reliable and orderly way should be improved," Wan said.

Experts said as the core and regulating law in the energy industry, the Energy Law has constructed the institutional system for green and low-carbon energy development.

"The enactment of the Energy Law signifies that China has a basically sound system for regulating energy. It already includes the Electricity Law, the Coal Law, the Renewable Energy Law, and the Energy Conservation Law, among other laws, rules, and administrative regulations," said Wang Peng, president of the National Institute of Energy Development Strategy, North China Electric Power University.

According to the experts, the Energy Law is more comprehensive than those separate laws, spelling out how different types of energy should be used and giving basic rules for making sure that the growth of all types of energy is coordinated.

China's first energy law takes effect, highlighting green, low-carbon development

China closed 2025 with a record of 92 space launches and major breakthroughs were made in manned space launches, deep space exploration and commercial launches, according to the China National Space Administration.

"In 2025, we created a new launch record, sending more than 300 satellites into planned orbits. Both the number of launches and the number of payloads placed in orbit have achieved qualitative leapfrog development," said Zhu Haiyang, an engineer with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

In 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest single mission duration in the history of China's manned space program. Following the Shenzhou-20, the Shenzhou-21 achieved the fastest rendezvous and docking in the history of the Shenzhou mission in just three hours and a half.

Facing an unexpected technical situation with the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, China immediately activated emergency plans. Within 16 days, a series of maneuvers were accomplished including the launch of the Shenzhou-22 backup vehicle, presenting a "textbook model" for the international space community in effectively responding to unexpected emergencies.

In deep space exploration, the Tianwen-2 probe embarked on its journey for China's first asteroid exploration and sample-return mission in 2025.

Last year also saw intensive launch activities from multiple commercial rocket types, injecting strong momentum into the country's commercial space development.

As China has kicked off the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), a new blueprint for the country's space program is unfolding. Multiple tests are planned in preparation for future lunar exploration, as Chang'e-7 lunar probe is scheduled to be launched for the lunar south pole to search for evidence of water ice. The industry is also preparing for the maiden flights of several new rocket types, which will include the challenges to test rocket recovery and reusability technologies.

China closes 2025 with record 92 space launches

China closes 2025 with record 92 space launches