Carbon Brief has analyzed all central government five-year plans released to date for the 15th five-year planning cycle and found that 54 of the 72 published plans include policies or targets related to climate change and energy.
China’s five-year plans serve as a foundational tool for directing economic and social development across the country. The overarching plan for 2026-2030 was published in March, establishing high-level targets and policies. Subsequent thematic and sectoral plans then follow over the coming months and years, each addressing specific industries or issues ranging from renewable energy to fossil fuel development.
The plans contain both numerical and non-numerical targets. Primary goals listed in the 15th overarching plan include a 17% reduction in carbon intensity across the five-year period. Additional climate commitments previously announced, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 7-10% below peak levels by 2035, form the basis for subsequent policymaking. The sectoral plans provide more granular targets and specific policy directions for individual industries and themes.
Carbon Brief’s tracking effort encompasses all 72 plans released thus far, covering topics as varied as coal production, electric vehicles, and meteorological development. While additional plans may yet be published before the five-year cycle concludes, the organization indicates that major climate and energy-related plans have likely already been released. This planning period is considered particularly significant for climate action, as it encompasses the years leading toward China’s commitment to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030.
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