The Role and Challenges of Environmental and Resource Protection Law in Addressing Climate Change

Abstract

With the increasingly serious problem of climate change, environmental and resource protection law plays an increasingly important role in dealing with climate change. This paper first analyzes the basic framework of environmental and resource protection law under the background of global climate change and clarifies its important functions in slowing down greenhouse gas emissions, promoting green development, and promoting sustainable resource utilization. Through a systematic review of relevant domestic and foreign laws and regulations, it is found that China’s existing environmental and resource protection law has made some progress in addressing climate change, but it still faces many challenges in policy implementation, law application, and public participation. Specific problems include the conflict between the application of climate change and traditional environmental protection laws, the lag of relevant legislation, and the inadequacy of cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms. To address these challenges, the paper proposes to strengthen the coordination of law and policy, promote independent legislation of climate change law, improve legal monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, and enhance public participation. The research shows that only by improving the relevant legal framework can the government effectively promote the legal protection system of China’s response to climate change and contribute to global climate governance.