China to incorporate carbon targets into development plans

August 2 – China to incorporate carbon targets into development plans to achieve and promote green and low carbon development.

China will integrate carbon emission targets into its national economic and social development agenda, according to a working plan released on Friday.

The plan, issued by the General Office of the State Council, aims to speed up the creation of mechanisms to control both the total amount and intensity of carbon emissions.

By 2025, the plan aims to enhance the country’s capabilities in carbon emission statistics, accounting, monitoring, and measurement.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will establish mechanisms focused on reducing the intensity of carbon emissions. After peaking carbon emissions, the emphasis will shift to controlling the total emissions.

The plan also calls for efforts to improve carbon emission planning mechanisms, create local emission assessment systems, explore early warning and control mechanisms for key industries, and enhance carbon reduction management for enterprises.

China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

“China is setting a hard emissions cap for the first time, which will guide emissions reduction after 2030,” said Yao Zhe, global policy advisor for Greenpeace East Asia in Beijing.

Since 2016, controlling both the total amount and intensity of energy consumption has been a binding requirement for local governments’ economic and social development initiatives.

A recently unveiled key document pledged that China will implement new mechanisms to transition towards controlling total carbon emissions, rather than just energy consumption, as part of its efforts to promote green and low-carbon development.

This plan highlights China’s commitment towards sustainable development and curbing carbon emissions to ensure greener and safer environment.