ReThink Forum
Highlights from China’s New Environmental Code from an International Perspective
11 Sep (Fri) Day 2 : 11:10 – 11:30
This past March, China’s National People’s Congress adopted the Environmental Ecological Code. It integrates over 30 laws and includes China’s first climate legislation – committing the country to fulfil its obligations under international climate treaties. The code was designed to send a clear international message: China is elevating environmental protection and climate action. The code also holds the promise to serve as a model for other countries. Adam Weiss will highlight some of the code’s most interesting features from an international perspective, and how they compare with similar laws adopted elsewhere, notably in Europe.
Speakers
Adam Weiss
Chief Programmes and Impact Officer
ClientEarth
Adam Weiss
ClientEarth
Chief Programmes and Impact Officer
As Chief Programmes and Impact Officer, Adam ensures ClientEarth projects deliver the greatest impact and spearheads critical fundraising efforts to align resources with ClientEarth’s goals.
Adam previously managed the legal practice at two NGOs: the European Roma Rights Centre and, before that, the AIRE Centre.
He has litigated before the European Court of Human Rights, UN treaty bodies, and national courts in twenty countries across Europe. Adam is currently on the board of two NGOs: the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (Belgium) and Focus on Labour Exploitation (UK).
Adam holds an LLM from King’s College (University of London) and a JD from Columbia Law School (New York). He is a member of the New York State bar.
Before studying law, he received a diplôme d’études approfondies (Master of Advanced Study) from the University of Paris-IV (La Sorbonne), specialising in 18th-century French literature. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in history and literature. He speaks English, French, Spanish, Hungarian, and some Dutch.
My Sustainability Goals for 2026:
- Increased recognition of the role of the law in the environmental transition.
- Increased support for lawyers and organisations using the law to combat climate change and protect nature and health.