5-year plan spotlights green development

China will accelerate efforts to build and improve an economic structure conducive to green, low-carbon and circular development in its ongoing anti-pollution fight to achieve its carbon peak and neutrality goals, according to a document issued by the State Council on Jan 24.

The document unveiled a general plan for energy conservation and emissions reduction during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

According to the plan, by 2025 the country aims to reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 13.5 percent from 2020 while keeping total energy consumption at reasonable levels, leading the world in energy efficiency and controlling emissions from major pollutants in key industries.

To that end, projects of energy conservation and emissions reduction as well as comprehensively treating pollutants should cover key industries, such as steel and iron, nonferrous metals, building materials and petrochemicals. Industrial enterprises are encouraged to consolidate at industrial parks, where the energy system and overall pollution control can be improved.

Urban and rural areas can also contribute, with the former building low-carbon cities, resilient cities, sponge cities and "solid waste-free" cities, and with renewable energy, such as wind, solar and biomass energy, applied in agricultural production and rural life for clean heating and other purposes.

In transport and logistics sectors, saving energy and reducing emissions mean promoting the construction of green railways, highways, ports, sea routes and airports, as well as infrastructure for electric vehicle battery charging and swapping, gas and hydrogen filling, and shore power at ports and airports.

The plan outlines improvements in related policies and mechanisms to help curb total energy consumption and energy intensity, as well as total pollutant emissions. Projects with high energy consumption and emissions should be resolutely deterred, the plan said.

Strengthening market-based mechanisms has been urged to advance pilot programs for trading energy use rights while aligning them with carbon emissions trading. Energy accounting and online energy consumption monitoring systems targeting major energy consumers were also encouraged to be enhanced.