PROS AND CONS OF CHINA'S ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CODE IN THE PHASE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ADOPTION (ISO 50001)

As the world’s second-largest economy and one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, China has undertaken significant reforms in environmental governance by developing its Ecological and Environmental Code (EEC), which was enacted on March 12, 2026 and scheduled to take effect on August 15, 2026. The EEC is a landmark that consolidates environmental legislation into a unified framework, integrating over 30 environmental laws and supporting green and low-carbon development to strengthen sustainability, environmental protection, and economic competitiveness. This review aimed to evaluate the significance of China’s EEC as a transformative legal framework for environmental governance, its pros and cons, its relationships with ISO 50001 for strengths, limitations, and policy implications, and its alignment with the United Nations’ sustainability for transitions, carbon neutrality objectives, industrial competitiveness, and organizational energy performance. Drawing primarily on the World Economic Forum (Wijesinha & Tai, 2026) and supported by 40 additional authoritative and peer-reviewed sources (Appendix I), the study adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for