The draft environmental code has sparked active discussion among Zhejiang deputies to the 14th National People's Congress.

Deputies said the compilation of the code, which would become China's second law formally designated as a code, aims not only to protect blue skies, clear waters, and clean land, but also to reinforce the foundation for high-quality development.

Zhang Qi, director of internal medicine at the First Hospital of Jiaxing, said respiratory diseases are closely linked to environmental conditions. She added that the first article of the draft places "protecting public safety and health" at the core of its legislative purpose, adding that environmental protection measures ultimately safeguard people's ability to breathe clean air.

Another focus of discussion among deputies is the section of the draft dedicated to green and low-carbon development. Wang Jie, deputy general manager of Baima Lake Laboratory Co, said policies supporting the development of deep-sea offshore wind power in Zhejiang would help optimize energy supply and support greener growth.

Zhang Tianren, chairman of Tianneng Group, said he has long focused on the recycling of used lead-acid batteries and has been promoting a closed-loop recycling system. He suggested establishing a national whitelist system for cross-regional transfers and encouraging integrated development covering production, recycling, regeneration, and reuse to promote greener industrial life cycles.