On October 24, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council officially issued the "Opinions on Fully, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Philosophy and Doing a Good Job in Achieving Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality."

　　The “Opinions” require:

　　By 2025, a preliminary economic system featuring green, low-carbon, and circular development will be established, with significantly improved energy efficiency in key industries. Energy consumption per unit of GDP will decrease by 13.5% compared to 2020; carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will decline by 18% compared to 2020; the share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption will reach around 20%; forest coverage will reach 24.1%, and forest stock volume will attain 18 billion cubic meters, laying a solid foundation for achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

　　By 2030, the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development will have achieved significant results, with energy efficiency in key energy-consuming industries reaching internationally advanced levels. Energy consumption per unit of GDP will decline substantially; carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will fall by more than 65% compared to 2005 levels; the share of non-fossil energy consumption will reach around 25%, and the total installed capacity of wind and solar power will exceed 1.2 billion kilowatts; forest coverage will reach approximately 25%, with forest stock volume reaching 19 billion cubic meters. Carbon dioxide emissions will peak and then stabilize and gradually decline.

　　By 2060, a green, low-carbon, and circular economic system as well as a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system will be fully established. Energy-use efficiency will reach internationally advanced levels, the share of non-fossil fuel consumption will exceed 80%, the goal of carbon neutrality will be smoothly achieved, substantial progress will be made in ecological civilization construction, and a new era of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature will be ushered in.

　　The "Opinions" propose actively developing non-fossil energy sources. We will implement a renewable energy substitution initiative, vigorously promoting wind power, solar power, biomass energy, ocean energy, and geothermal energy, and continuously increasing the share of non-fossil energy consumption. We will adhere to a combination of centralized and distributed approaches, giving priority to the local development and utilization of wind and solar energy. We will develop hydropower tailored to local conditions. We will actively, safely, and orderly develop nuclear power. We will make rational use of biomass energy. We will accelerate the large-scale deployment of pumped-storage hydroelectricity and new types of energy storage. We will coordinate and promote the full-chain development of hydrogen—from production and storage to transportation and utilization. We will build a new type of power system dominated by new energy sources, enhancing the grid’s capacity to absorb and regulate high proportions of renewable energy.

　　Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Fully, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Philosophy and Doing a Good Job in Achieving Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality

　　(September 22, 2021)

　　Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a major strategic decision made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, taking into account both domestic and international contexts. It is an inevitable choice for addressing prominent resource and environmental constraints and ensuring the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, as well as a solemn commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind. To fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy and effectively carry out the work related to achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, we hereby put forward the following guidelines.

　　I. General Requirements

　　(1) Guiding Ideology. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Plenary Sessions of the 19th Central Committee; deeply embrace Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization; ground ourselves in the new stage of development; uphold the new development philosophy; and foster a new development pattern. Adhering to a systems perspective, we will properly balance the relationships among development and emission reduction, the whole and the part, and the short-term with the medium- and long-term. We will integrate carbon peaking and carbon neutrality into the overall framework of economic and social development, take the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development as our guiding principle, and regard green and low-carbon energy development as the key. We will accelerate the formation of industrial structures, modes of production, lifestyles, and spatial patterns that conserve resources and protect the environment. We will unswervingly pursue a high-quality development path prioritizing ecology and featuring green and low-carbon practices, ensuring that we achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality on schedule.

　　(2) Principles of Work

　　To achieve the goals of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, we must adhere to the principles of “national overall coordination, prioritizing conservation, dual-drive approach, ensuring smooth domestic and international flows, and preventing risks.”

　　— National coordinated planning. Adopt a nationwide, integrated approach, strengthen top-level design, leverage institutional advantages, implement the principle of joint responsibility between Party and government, and ensure that all parties fulfill their respective responsibilities. Based on local conditions, adopt tailored policies, and encourage proactive efforts and early peaking.

　　—Prioritize conservation. Put energy and resource conservation first, implement a comprehensive conservation strategy, continuously reduce energy and resource consumption per unit of output and carbon emissions, enhance input-output efficiency, promote a simple, moderate, green, and low-carbon lifestyle, and establish effective carbon emission control mechanisms from the source and at the point of entry.

　　— Dual-wheel drive. The government and the market will work in tandem to establish a new national system, strengthen technological and institutional innovation, and accelerate the green and low-carbon technological revolution. We will deepen reforms in the energy sector and related fields, leverage the role of market mechanisms, and create effective incentive and constraint systems.

　　—Ensuring smooth domestic and international flows. Based on China’s national conditions, we will coordinate domestic and international energy resources and promote advanced, green, and low-carbon technologies and best practices. We will also coordinate efforts to engage in both the external struggle against climate change and international cooperation, continuously enhancing our global influence and voice, and firmly safeguarding our country’s development interests.

　　—Prevent risks. Properly balance the relationships among pollution reduction, carbon reduction, energy security, supply-chain and industrial-chain security, food security, and the normal daily lives of the public. Effectively address the economic, financial, and social risks that may accompany the green and low-carbon transition, avoid overreaction, and ensure safe carbon reduction.

　　II. Main Objectives

　　By 2025, a preliminary economic system featuring green, low-carbon, and circular development will be established, with significantly improved energy efficiency in key industries. Energy consumption per unit of GDP will decrease by 13.5% compared to 2020; carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will decline by 18% compared to 2020; the share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption will reach around 20%; forest coverage will reach 24.1%, and forest stock volume will attain 18 billion cubic meters, laying a solid foundation for achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

　　By 2030, the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development will have achieved significant results, with energy efficiency in key energy-consuming industries reaching internationally advanced levels. Energy consumption per unit of GDP will decline substantially; carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will fall by more than 65% compared to 2005 levels; the share of non-fossil energy consumption will reach around 25%, and the total installed capacity of wind and solar power will exceed 1.2 billion kilowatts; forest coverage will reach approximately 25%, with forest stock volume reaching 19 billion cubic meters. Carbon dioxide emissions will peak and then stabilize and gradually decline.

　　By 2060, a green, low-carbon, and circular economic system as well as a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system will be fully established. Energy-use efficiency will reach internationally advanced levels, the share of non-fossil fuel consumption will exceed 80%, the goal of carbon neutrality will be smoothly achieved, substantial progress will be made in ecological civilization construction, and a new era of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature will be ushered in.

　　III. Promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.

　　(3) Strengthen the guiding role of green and low-carbon development planning. Fully integrate the goals of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality into medium- and long-term economic and social development plans, and enhance the supporting and safeguarding roles of national development plans, land and space planning, special-purpose plans, regional plans, and local-level plans at all levels. Strengthen coordination and alignment among various plans at all levels and of all types, ensuring that all regions and sectors consistently implement the key objectives, development directions, major policies, and major projects related to peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.

　　(4) Optimize the regional layout for green and low-carbon development. Continuously refine the spatial distribution of major infrastructure, key productive forces, and public resources, and establish a new pattern of land use and conservation that supports peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. In the implementation of major regional strategies such as the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, strengthen the orientation and task requirements for green and low-carbon development.

　　(5) Accelerate the development of green production and lifestyle patterns. Vigorously promote energy conservation and emission reduction, comprehensively advance clean production, accelerate the development of a circular economy, strengthen the comprehensive utilization of resources, and continuously enhance the level of green and low-carbon development. Expand the supply and consumption of green and low-carbon products, and advocate for a green and low-carbon lifestyle. Integrate green and low-carbon development into the national education system. Launch pilot initiatives to promote green and low-carbon social actions. Build broad societal consensus and accelerate the formation of a positive pattern in which everyone participates.

　　4. Deeply adjust the industrial structure

　　(6) Promote the optimization and upgrading of industrial structures. Accelerate the transition toward green agricultural development and enhance carbon sequestration and efficiency in agriculture. Develop implementation plans for peaking carbon emissions in sectors and fields such as energy, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, petrochemicals, building materials, transportation, and construction. Guided by energy conservation and carbon reduction, revise the Catalogue of Guidance for Industrial Structure Adjustment. Conduct “look-back” reviews on capacity reduction efforts in the iron and steel and coal industries to consolidate the achievements made so far. Accelerate the advancement of low-carbon process innovation and digital transformation in the industrial sector. Launch pilot projects for parks aimed at peaking carbon emissions. Speed up the green transformation of commercial distribution, information services, and other related sectors, and elevate the level of low-carbon development in the service industry.

　　(7) Firmly curb the blind development of high-energy-consumption and high-emission projects. For newly built or expanded high-energy-consumption and high-emission projects such as steel, cement, flat glass, and electrolytic aluminum, strictly implement capacity replacement—either at the same level or with reduction. Introduce policies to control capacity in sectors including coal-fired power, petrochemicals, and coal-to-chemicals. No new refineries or new ethylene, paraxylene, or coal-to-olefins projects shall be approved unless they are included in the national industrial planning for their respective sectors. Reasonably control the scale of coal-to-oil and coal-to-gas production capacity. Raise energy consumption access standards for high-energy-consumption and high-emission projects. Strengthen analysis, early warning, and guidance on overcapacity.

　　(8) Vigorously develop green and low-carbon industries. Accelerate the development of strategic emerging industries such as next-generation information technology, biotechnology, new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, new-energy vehicles, green environmental protection, as well as aerospace and marine equipment. Build a green manufacturing system. Promote the deep integration of emerging technologies—including the internet, big data, artificial intelligence, and fifth-generation mobile communications (5G)—with green and low-carbon industries.

　　V. Accelerate the development of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.

　　(9) Strengthen the dual control over energy consumption intensity and total volume. Adhere to an energy development strategy that prioritizes energy conservation, strictly control energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission intensity, reasonably manage the total volume of energy consumption, and systematically establish a system for controlling total carbon dioxide emissions. Ensure seamless coordination among industrial layout, structural adjustment, energy conservation reviews, and the dual-control measures for energy consumption. For regions facing severe challenges in meeting their energy-intensity reduction targets, implement measures such as delaying or restricting approval of new projects and requiring energy consumption to be offset by equivalent or reduced amounts. Intensify energy conservation inspections and law enforcement, enhance analysis and early warning systems for energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission targets, and rigorously enforce accountability and evaluation mechanisms. Strengthen control over non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases such as methane.

　　(10) Significantly enhance energy-use efficiency. Integrate energy conservation into every stage and sector of economic and social development, continuously deepen energy-saving efforts in key areas such as industry, buildings, transportation, and public institutions, and improve the energy efficiency of information infrastructure—including data centers and next-generation communication networks. Establish and refine an energy management system, strengthen energy-saving management and target accountability for key energy-consuming entities. Aiming at internationally advanced standards, accelerate the implementation of energy-saving and carbon-reduction upgrades, and cultivate “energy-efficiency leaders.”

　　(11) Strictly control fossil energy consumption. Accelerate the pace of coal reduction: during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, strictly limit the growth of coal consumption; during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, gradually reduce coal consumption. Oil consumption will enter a peak plateau phase during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Coordinate the development of coal-fired power with ensuring supply and peak-shaving capabilities, strictly control the installed capacity of coal-fired power plants, and expedite energy-saving upgrades and flexibility modifications for existing coal-fired generating units. Gradually reduce and eventually ban the scattered burning of coal. Speed up the large-scale development of unconventional oil and gas resources such as shale gas, coalbed methane, and tight oil and gas. Strengthen risk management to ensure a secure, stable energy supply and a smooth transition.

　　(12) Actively develop non-fossil energy sources. Implement a renewable energy substitution initiative, vigorously promoting wind power, solar power, biomass energy, ocean energy, and geothermal energy, and continuously increase the share of non-fossil energy consumption. Adhere to a combination of centralized and distributed approaches, giving priority to the local development and utilization of wind and solar energy. Develop hydropower resources in accordance with local conditions. Actively, safely, and orderly develop nuclear power. Make rational use of biomass energy. Accelerate the large-scale deployment of pumped-storage hydroelectricity and new types of energy storage. Promote coordinated development across the entire hydrogen energy value chain—from production and storage to transportation and utilization. Build a new type of power system dominated by new energy sources, and enhance the grid’s capacity to absorb and regulate high proportions of renewable energy.

　　(13) Deepen reforms of the energy system and mechanisms. Fully advance the market-oriented reform of the electricity sector, accelerate the development and cultivation of independent market players in the power distribution and retail segments, improve the coordination mechanisms among medium- and long-term markets, spot markets, and ancillary service markets, and expand the scale of market-based transactions. Promote reforms of the grid system, clearly defining the market status of new distribution networks, microgrids, and distributed power sources that primarily focus on accommodating renewable energy. Speed up the establishment of a mechanism for developing new power generation capacity, underpinned by energy storage and peak-shaving capabilities. Further refine the market-based pricing mechanisms for electricity and other energy commodities. From the perspective of promoting energy conservation, deepen electricity price reforms, rationalize the structure of transmission and distribution tariffs, and fully liberalize electricity prices in competitive segments. Advance market-oriented reforms in coal, oil, gas, and other energy sectors, and accelerate the completion of a unified energy market.

　　VI. Accelerate the development of a low-carbon transportation system.

　　(14) Optimize the transportation structure. Accelerate the development of an integrated, multi-dimensional transportation network, vigorously promote multimodal transport, increase the share of rail and waterway transport in comprehensive transportation systems, and continuously reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission intensity per unit of transport. Optimize passenger transport organization and guide passenger transport enterprises toward large-scale and intensive operations. Speed up the development of green logistics, integrate transportation resources, and enhance utilization efficiency.

　　(15) Promote energy-saving and low-carbon transportation vehicles. Accelerate the development of new-energy and clean-energy vehicles and vessels, popularize smart transportation, advance the electrification of railways, promote the construction of hydrogen refueling stations, and encourage the regular use of shore power by ships when they dock. Speed up the establishment of a convenient, efficient, and moderately forward-looking charging and battery-swapping network system. Raise energy efficiency standards for fuel-powered vehicles and vessels, improve the energy-efficiency labeling system for transportation equipment, and accelerate the phasing out of old, high-energy-consumption, and high-emission vehicles and vessels.

　　(16) Actively promote low-carbon transportation. Accelerate the construction of high-capacity public transportation infrastructure such as urban rail transit, dedicated bus lanes, and bus rapid transit systems, and strengthen the development of urban slow-moving systems including dedicated bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. Comprehensively employ a variety of measures—legal, economic, technological, and administrative—to intensify efforts to address urban traffic congestion.

　　7. Enhance the quality of green and low-carbon development in urban and rural construction.

　　(17) Promote a low-carbon transformation of urban and rural construction and management models. Fully implement green and low-carbon requirements in all stages of urban and rural planning, construction, and management. Foster cluster-based urban development, build urban ecological and ventilation corridors, and enhance urban greening levels. Rationally plan targets for the development of urban building footprints and strictly control the construction of high-energy-consuming public buildings. Implement green construction throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects, improve the management system for building demolition, and put an end to large-scale demolition and reconstruction. Accelerate the advancement of green community development. In conjunction with the implementation of the Rural Construction Action, promote green and low-carbon development in county towns and rural areas.

　　(18) Vigorously promote the development of energy-saving and low-carbon buildings. Continuously raise energy-efficiency standards for newly constructed buildings and accelerate the large-scale development of ultra-low-energy, nearly zero-energy, and low-carbon buildings. Strongly advance energy-saving renovations of existing urban buildings and municipal infrastructure, thereby enhancing the energy efficiency and carbon reduction levels of buildings. Gradually implement building energy consumption caps, introduce building energy performance certification and labeling, and conduct performance assessments for low-carbon development in the building sector. Fully promote green and low-carbon building materials and encourage the recycling of construction materials. Develop green and low-carbon rural houses.

　　(19) Accelerate the optimization of building energy consumption structures. Deepen the application of renewable energy in buildings and speed up the electrification and decarbonization of building energy use. Launch a rooftop photovoltaic initiative for buildings, significantly increasing the penetration rate of electrification in areas such as building heating, domestic hot water, and cooking. In northern urban areas, accelerate the promotion of combined heat and power (CHP)-based district heating; expedite the large-scale development of industrial waste-heat-based heating; and actively and steadily advance nuclear power waste-heat-based heating. Furthermore, promote clean and low-carbon heating solutions—including heat pumps, gas, biomass energy, and geothermal energy—tailored to local conditions.

　　8. Strengthen research and development, as well as the promotion and application, of major green and low-carbon technologies.

　　(20) Strengthen basic research and the strategic deployment of cutting-edge technologies. Develop an action plan to support China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals through science and technology, and prepare a roadmap for the development of carbon-neutral technologies. Adopt the “challenge-based recruitment” mechanism to tackle key scientific and technological challenges in low-carbon, zero-carbon, negative-carbon, and energy-storage materials, technologies, and equipment. Enhance fundamental theoretical and methodological research on the causes and impacts of climate change, as well as on ecosystem carbon sinks. Advance research into cutting-edge low-carbon technologies such as high-efficiency solar cells, hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, controlled nuclear fusion, and the re-engineering of zero-carbon industrial processes. Foster a group of national key laboratories, national technology innovation centers, and major platforms for technological innovation dedicated to developing energy-saving, carbon-reducing, and new-energy technologies. Build a talent system for achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and encourage universities to establish new disciplines and specialties related to carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

　　(21) Accelerate the research, development, and promotion of advanced and applicable technologies. Conduct in-depth studies on smart grid technologies that support the large-scale, grid-friendly integration of wind power and solar power generation. Strengthen efforts to tackle key challenges, conduct demonstrations, and promote industrial applications of new energy storage technologies such as electrochemical storage and compressed air storage. Enhance research, demonstration, and scaled-up application of critical technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. Promote energy-saving and low-carbon technologies such as cascaded energy utilization in industrial parks. Advance the research, development, and demonstration of new materials like aerogels, and accelerate their practical applications. Promote the research, development, and demonstration of large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, and facilitate their industrial application. Establish and improve a comprehensive system for evaluating, trading, and providing technological innovation services for green and low-carbon technologies.

　　9. Continuously consolidate and enhance carbon sink capacity.

　　(22) Strengthen the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems. Enhance land spatial planning and use control, strictly uphold ecological protection redlines, rigorously limit the occupation of ecological spaces, and stabilize the carbon-sequestration functions of existing forests, grasslands, wetlands, oceans, soils, permafrost, and karst regions. Strictly control the scale of newly added construction land and promote the revitalization and efficient utilization of existing urban and rural construction land. Strictly enforce land-use standards, strengthen evaluation of land conservation and intensive use, and popularize land-saving technologies and models.

　　(23) Enhance the incremental carbon sink capacity of ecosystems. Implement major ecological conservation and restoration projects, and carry out integrated protection and restoration efforts for mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and sandy areas. Deepen the large-scale afforestation initiative, consolidate the achievements of converting cultivated land back to forests and grasslands, and implement precision-enhancement projects aimed at improving forest quality, thereby continuously increasing both forest area and standing timber volume. Strengthen ecological conservation and restoration of grasslands. Intensify wetland protection. Promote the comprehensive protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, enhancing the carbon-sequestering capacity of mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes, and other coastal habitats. Launch initiatives to improve arable land quality, implement the National Black Soil Conservation Project, and boost the carbon sink potential of ecological agriculture. Actively promote the exploration and utilization of karst carbon sinks.

　　10. Enhance the level of green and low-carbon development in opening up to the outside world.

　　(24) Accelerate the establishment of a green trade system. Continuously optimize the structure of trade and vigorously develop trade in high-quality, high-tech, and high-value-added green products. Improve export policies and strictly regulate the export of high-energy-consumption and high-emission products. Actively expand imports of green and low-carbon products, energy-saving and environmentally friendly services, and environmental services.

　　(25) Promote the construction of a green Belt and Road. Accelerate the green transformation of investment cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Support countries jointly building the Belt and Road in developing and utilizing clean energy. Vigorously advance South-South cooperation to help developing countries enhance their capacity to tackle climate change. Deepen exchanges and cooperation with various countries in areas such as green technologies, green equipment, green services, and green infrastructure development. Actively promote the outbound expansion of China’s green and low-carbon technologies and products, including new energy technologies, and ensure that green becomes the defining feature of the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

　　(26) Strengthen international exchanges and cooperation. Actively participate in international negotiations to address climate change, uphold China’s status as a developing country, adhere to the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity, and respective capabilities, and safeguard China’s development interests. Implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, release China’s long-term strategy for low greenhouse gas emissions, actively engage in the formulation of international rules and standards, and promote the establishment of a global climate governance system that is fair, equitable, and mutually beneficial. Enhance international exchanges and cooperation in addressing climate change, coordinate domestic and international efforts, and proactively participate in global climate and environmental governance.

　　11. Improve the legal, regulatory, and standard systems, as well as the statistical monitoring framework.

　　(27) Improve the legal and regulatory framework. Thoroughly review existing laws and regulations to identify provisions that are incompatible with efforts to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and strengthen coordination and alignment among different legal and regulatory frameworks. Study and formulate special legislation on carbon neutrality, and promptly revise laws such as the Energy Conservation Law, the Electricity Law, the Coal Law, the Renewable Energy Law, and the Circular Economy Promotion Law, thereby enhancing the targeted nature and effectiveness of these relevant laws and regulations.

　　(28) Improve the standards and metrology system. Establish and refine a comprehensive standards and metrology system for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Accelerate the updating and upgrading of energy-saving standards, promptly revise a batch of national mandatory standards on energy consumption limits, energy efficiency of products and equipment, and engineering construction standards, raise energy consumption limit requirements for key products, expand the coverage of energy consumption limit standards, and improve supporting standards for energy accounting, testing and certification, assessment, and auditing. Speed up the refinement of standards for carbon emission verification, accounting, and reporting at the regional, industrial, enterprise, and product levels, and establish a unified and standardized carbon accounting system. Develop greenhouse gas emission standards for key industries and products, and improve the labeling system for low-carbon products. Actively participate in the formulation of relevant international standards and strengthen the alignment of domestic standards with international ones.

　　(29) Enhance statistical monitoring capabilities. Improve the energy consumption statistical monitoring and measurement systems in sectors such as power, steel, and construction, and strengthen the development of online energy consumption monitoring systems for key energy-consuming entities. Strengthen capacity building for the statistical accounting of carbon dioxide emissions and raise the level of information-based, on-site measurements. Relying on and expanding the natural resource survey and monitoring system, establish an ecosystem carbon sink monitoring and accounting system, conduct baseline surveys and carbon stock assessments of carbon sinks in forests, grasslands, wetlands, oceans, soils, permafrost, and karst regions, and implement monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological protection and restoration efforts aimed at enhancing carbon sinks.

　　12. Improve policy mechanisms

　　(30) Improve investment policies. Fully leverage the guiding role of government investment, and establish an investment and financing system that is aligned with the goals of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. Strictly control investments in high-carbon projects such as coal-fired power, steel, electrolytic aluminum, cement, and petrochemicals, while significantly increasing support for projects related to energy conservation and environmental protection, new energy sources, low-carbon transportation equipment and operational models, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Further refine policies to encourage private capital participation, thereby stimulating the green and low-carbon investment vitality of market entities. State-owned enterprises should step up their green and low-carbon investments and actively engage in the research, development, and application of low-carbon, zero-carbon, and negative-carbon technologies.

　　(31) Actively develop green finance. Promote the orderly development of green and low-carbon financial products and services, establish carbon reduction monetary policy tools, incorporate green credit into the macroprudential assessment framework, and guide banks and other financial institutions to provide long-term, low-cost funding for green and low-carbon projects. Encourage development and policy-based financial institutions to provide long-term, stable financing support for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in accordance with market-oriented and rule-of-law principles. Support eligible enterprises to raise funds through initial public offerings and refinancing for the construction and operation of green and low-carbon projects, and expand the scale of green bonds. Study the establishment of a National Low-Carbon Transition Fund. Encourage social capital to set up green and low-carbon industry investment funds. Establish and improve a green finance standards system.

　　(32) Improve fiscal, tax, and pricing policies. Governments at all levels should increase support for the development of green and low-carbon industries and technological R&D. Refine government standards for green procurement and step up efforts to purchase green and low-carbon products. Implement tax incentives for environmental protection, energy conservation and water saving, as well as for new-energy and clean-energy vehicles and vessels. Study tax policies related to carbon reduction. Establish and improve price mechanisms that promote the large-scale development of renewable energy. Further refine differentiated electricity prices, time-of-use electricity prices, and tiered residential electricity pricing policies. Strictly prohibit offering preferential electricity prices to high-energy-consuming, high-emission, and resource-intensive industries. Accelerate the reform of heat metering and the implementation of heat-based billing. Speed up the establishment of a carbon pricing mechanism with reasonable constraints.

　　(33) Promote the development of market-based mechanisms. Relying on public resource trading platforms, accelerate the establishment and improvement of a nationwide carbon emissions trading market, gradually expand its coverage, diversify trading products and methods, and refine quota allocation management. Incorporate carbon sink trading into the nationwide carbon emissions trading market and establish a sound ecological protection compensation mechanism that reflects the value of carbon sinks. Improve the systems for corporate and financial institution carbon emission reporting and information disclosure. Perfect the paid-use and trading system for energy-use rights, and expedite the construction of a nationwide energy-use-rights trading market. Strengthen the coordinated integration of electricity trading, energy-use-rights trading, and carbon emissions trading. Develop market-oriented energy-saving approaches, promote contract energy management, and popularize comprehensive energy-saving services.

　　13. Effectively strengthen organization and implementation.

　　(34) Strengthen organizational leadership. Enhance the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over efforts to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The Leading Group for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality shall provide guidance and overall coordination for these efforts. Support regions, key industries, and major enterprises that are well-positioned to take the lead in achieving carbon peaking, and organize pilot demonstrations for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality to explore effective models and valuable experiences. Incorporate carbon peaking and carbon neutrality as an important component of the cadre education and training system, thereby enhancing the capacity of leading cadres at all levels to promote green and low-carbon development.

　　(35) Strengthen overall coordination and integration. The National Development and Reform Commission should enhance its overall coordination efforts, organize and implement the Action Plan for Peaking Carbon Emissions by 2030, and strengthen strategic planning for carbon neutrality. It should regularly monitor and assess the progress made by various regions and relevant departments in achieving their carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets, intensify follow-up evaluations and oversight inspections, and coordinate to resolve major issues encountered during implementation. All relevant departments should strengthen their coordination and cooperation, pool their efforts, and ensure that policy orientations are consistent and implementation steps are well-aligned.

　　(36) Strengthen local responsibilities. Implement the accountability system for ecological civilization development among leading cadres. Party committees and governments at all local levels must firmly shoulder their responsibilities for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, clearly define goals and tasks, formulate concrete implementation measures, and proactively contribute to the achievement of these goals.

　　(37) Implement strict supervision and assessment. All regions shall incorporate indicators related to peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality into the comprehensive evaluation system for economic and social development, increase the weight assigned to these indicators, and strengthen their binding nature. Intensify assessment of the implementation of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and tasks; reward and commend regions, units, and individuals that have achieved outstanding results in accordance with regulations. For regions and departments that fail to meet their targets, conduct public criticism and hold accountability talks in accordance with regulations and laws. The implementation status will be included in the central government’s ecological and environmental inspection. Each region and relevant department shall report annually to the Party Central Committee and the State Council on their implementation efforts.