China to take action for energy conservation, carbon reduction

The State Council issued an action plan for energy conservation and carbon reduction during 2024-25, according to a circular released on May 29.

In order to actively and steadily achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and promote the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, the circular said that in 2024, energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will decrease by about 2.5 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the circular said that the energy consumption of added value of industrial enterprises above designated size should decrease by about 3.5 percent, and the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption reach about 18.9 percent. Also, about 50 million tons of standard coal should be saved for energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation in key areas and industries, and about 130 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions should be reduced in 2024.

Similarly, in 2025, non-fossil energy consumption will account for about 20 percent of total energy consumption, about 50 million tons of standard coal for energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation in key areas and industries will be saved, and about 130 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced.

In order to achieve the goals, a slew of actions should be taken to reduce and substitute fossil energy consumption by strictly and reasonably controlling coal consumption and optimizing oil and gas consumption structure, upgrade non-fossil energy consumption, and save energy and reduce carbon emissions in steel, petrochemical, non-ferrous metal, and building materials industries, and in areas such as architecture, transportation, public institutions, and energy-using products and equipment, the circular said.

The circular also emphasized more efforts in management mechanism, including intensifying responsibilities and evaluation, launching strict energy-saving review and approval for environmental impact assessment for fixed-asset investment projects, strengthening supervision on energy conservation, and adopting statistical accounting of energy consumption and carbon emissions.