China to include carbon dioxide emissions targets in development plans

BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) — China will include carbon dioxide emission targets in its national economic and social development program, according to a work plan released Friday.

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

According to the plan, by 2025 the country’s capacity in statistics and accounting, as well as monitoring and measuring carbon dioxide emissions, will be improved.

China will establish mechanisms to focus on reducing carbon dioxide emission intensity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). After carbon dioxide emissions peak, the mechanisms will shift their focus to controlling total emissions, as outlined in the plan.

This also required taking action to improve carbon dioxide emission planning mechanisms, establishing local emission assessment systems, exploring early warning and control mechanisms for key industries and sectors, and strengthening carbon reduction management mechanisms for enterprises.

China has committed to a dual carbon emissions target: peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

Since 2016, control of both the total amount and intensity of energy consumption has become a binding requirement for economic and social initiatives undertaken by local governments in the country.

In a key document recently released, China pledged to implement new mechanisms to facilitate the transition to controlling the total amount and intensity of carbon dioxide emissions, rather than limiting energy consumption, as part of efforts to promote green and low-carbon development.