China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, working alongside 18 other government departments, released the 15th five-year plan dedicated to addressing climate change in late July. The plan covers the 2026-2030 period and represents the first time at the five-year plan level that China has created a comprehensive target system encompassing all areas of climate policy, according to ministry officials.
The new plan does not introduce major new climate targets but instead consolidates and reaffirms existing policies and commitments. China has previously pledged to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. In its 2030 pledge, China committed to peak emissions before that year and reduce carbon intensity by more than 65% from 2005 levels. Last year, President Xi Jinping announced an additional 2035 pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 7-10% below peak levels by 2035.
Among the plan’s notable elements is a focus on non-CO2 greenhouse gases, which accounted for approximately 19% of China’s total emissions in 2021. The plan reaffirms a target of achieving an emissions reduction capacity of 30 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent from these gases by 2030, with strategies including coal-mine methane utilization projects, industrial nitrous oxide reduction, and hydrofluorocarbon management. Analysts note the plan’s particular attention to sulphur hexafluoride control is significant as China’s power system expands.
The plan also signals China’s intention to assume a more active role in global climate governance, aiming to increase its influence and shape international climate action by 2030. A key focus is expanding the global influence of China’s carbon market through international rule-setting and cooperation on standards. China is expected to participate in launching compliance carbon market frameworks with the EU and Brazil, with work plans anticipated at the China Carbon Market Conference in September.
Researchers describe the plan as marking a new phase in China’s climate policy, representing a broad effort to strengthen the country’s climate-governance system and implementation mechanisms.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI