China has published 72 five-year plans covering the 2026-2030 period, with Carbon Brief analysis finding that 54 of these documents include climate policies or targets. The plans represent a comprehensive approach to policymaking across multiple sectors and thematic areas, ranging from renewable energy and fossil fuel industries to electric vehicles and accounting methods.
The overarching 15th five-year plan, released in March 2026, establishes high-level targets and policies across all sectors. This was followed by numerous thematic and sectoral plans released over subsequent months. The tracking effort identified climate and energy-related goals throughout most government-level plans, even in documents not primarily focused on climate issues. These include both numerical targets and non-numerical objectives.
Key targets identified in the plans include a commitment to reduce carbon intensity by 17 percent over the five-year period. Additional goals announced before the main plan’s release include a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10 percent below peak levels by 2035. Non-numerical targets address areas such as extreme weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities.
The current five-year period holds particular significance for China’s climate commitments, as it encompasses the years leading to the country’s pledge to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030. While the full scope of all planned documents for this period remains uncertain, analysts believe most key climate and energy-related plans have been released. The plans were categorized and analyzed to identify primary goals, policies, and implementation directives across various government departments including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Energy Administration.
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