Abstract:  The legislation of environmental law among all nations is always in the dilemma between environmental protection and economic development. France enacted the “Energy Transition Law for Green Growth” in 2014 in the context of its own economic and social development. The Energy Transition Law aims at equilibrium between economic growth and the protection of energy system and environment, setting up a model and a new direction for environmental law legislation. Given the current situation in China, the principle of “protection first” in the newly amended Environmental Protection Law need restrained interpretation, and legislation of environmental law should transfer to “regulation and promotion”. Among China′s legal system in response to climate change, “Lowcarbon Economy Promotion Law” should be the basic law. We recommend that it should be formulated as an economic law based on the logic of the development of lowcarbon industry with an integrated design of energy, architecture, transportation and financial policies. Hopefully, the law will guide China′s economic transition, the growth of green economy and lowcarbon social development. 
environment protection and economic development; Lowcarbon Economy Promotion Law; protection first; green economy; lowcarbon society

Key words: environment protection and economic development, Lowcarbon Economy Promotion Law, protection first, green economy, lowcarbon society