International Policy and Society Highlights

2026-03-31

This bulletin summarizes authoritative and up-to-date developments in global public policy, social governance, digital regulation, climate action, and regional cooperation recently. Based on official releases by international organizations, governments, and multilateral mechanisms, it provides concise and academically valuable frontier information for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in policy studies and the social sciences.

Global Governance and Multilateralism

  • The 2026 Boao Forum for Asia highlighted the leading role of Asia and the Global South in advancing global economic recovery and inclusive multilateralism [1].
  • The 2026 China Development Forum reaffirmed commitments to high-level institutional opening-up and a stable, predictable business environment for global investors [2].

AI Governance and Digital Policy

  • The EU AI Act has entered full implementation, establishing a risk-based regulatory system with mandatory compliance for high-risk AI applications [3].
  • The United States issued a federal AI regulatory framework to unify domestic standards and strengthen data security and algorithmic accountability [4].
  • Major economies have increasingly converged around human-centered, risk-appropriate global AI governance [5].

Climate, Energy and Environmental Policy

  • Volatility in global energy markets has highlighted tensions between short-term energy security and long-term carbon neutrality goals [6].
  • The G7 reaffirmed its commitment to phase out unabated coal-fired power and expand renewable energy capacity [7].
  • The United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a legally targeted global framework on plastic pollution, setting circular economy targets for 2040 [8].

Social Policy and Public Welfare

  • China formally established a unified national long-term care insurance system to address population aging, aiming for basic universal coverage by 2028 [9].
  • The EU has continued to implement the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, establishing mandatory solidarity and burden-sharing mechanisms among member states [10].

Regional Integration and International Cooperation

  • The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has entered full implementation, deepening trade liberalization and supply chain integration in the Asia-Pacific [11].
  • The EU has advanced trade coordination and enlargement negotiations, with the rule of law and institutional reform as key prerequisites [12].

Journal Announcement

  • JPS calls for papers for 2026.
  • Nominations for the 2026 JPS Highly Cited Author Award are now open.
Contact & Submission

Journal of Policy and Society (JPS)

Email: editorial-jps@csrp-pub.com

Website: https://journal.csrp-pub.com/index.php/jps

 

 

References

  1. Boao Forum for Asia. (2026). Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 Communiqué. Beijing: BFA. https://www.boaoforum.org
  2. State Council Information Office. (2026). China Development Forum 2026 Summary Record. Beijing: SCIO. https://www.scio.gov.cn
  3. European Commission. (2026a). EU AI Act: Enforcement and Implementation Guidelines. Brussels: EC. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-transition/en/ai-act
  4. White House. (2026). Executive Order on Federal AI Regulatory Standards. Washington, DC: The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov
  5. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2026). OECD AI Governance Monitor 2026. Paris: OECD. https://www.oecd.org
  6. International Energy Agency. (2026). Global Energy Update 2026. Paris: IEA. https://www.iea.org
  7. G7. (2026). G7 Climate and Energy Ministerial Declaration. Berlin: G7 Presidency. https://www.g7germany.de
  8. United Nations Environment Programme. (2026). UNEA-7 Global Plastic Pollution Resolution. Nairobi: UNEP. https://www.unep.org
  9. National Healthcare Security Administration. (2026). National Long-Term Care Insurance System Implementation Plan. Beijing: NHSA. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn
  10. European Commission. (2026b). Migration and Asylum Pact: Implementation Progress Report. Brussels: EC. https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/en/migration-asylum-pact
  11. ASEAN Secretariat. (2026). RCEP Full Implementation Report 2026. Jakarta: ASEAN. https://asean.org/rcep
  12. European Council. (2026). EU Enlargement and Trade Policy Update. Brussels: European Council. https://www.consilium.europa.eu