China has released 72 five-year plans covering the 2026-2030 development period, with 54 of them containing climate-related policies or targets, according to research by Carbon Brief. The highest-level plan, published in March covering economic and social development, establishes the framework for this planning cycle, followed by thematic plans addressing specific sectors and issues.
The five-year plans serve as a critical tool in China’s policymaking system, establishing targets and priorities across government ministries and departments. Beyond the overarching economic and social development plan, individual thematic plans focus on areas such as renewable energy, fossil fuel industries, and climate response mechanisms. Sectoral plans provide more granular policy directions compared to the broad objectives outlined in the top-level framework.
Carbon Brief has created a tracking system documenting climate and energy targets contained within these plans. The tracker identifies primary goals listed in each plan, which include both quantitative targets and qualitative objectives. For instance, the overarching plan establishes a 17% reduction in carbon intensity across the five-year period. Secondary policies and directives are also catalogued for each document to provide comprehensive coverage of climate-related commitments.
The current planning cycle is considered particularly significant for climate action as it encompasses the years leading to China’s commitment to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030. While Carbon Brief understands that major climate and energy plans have likely been released, the exact total number of documents for this five-year period remains unclear. The plans cover diverse topics ranging from coal industry development to electric vehicles, with many sectoral documents incorporating climate considerations even when not primarily focused on environmental issues.
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