Briefings

Today China released its long-awaited Methane Emissions Control Action Plan (“Action Plan”). The Action Plan was jointly issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) together with ten other national ministries and agencies. This reflects the extensive interagency review that MEE had to undertake to secure State Council approval for release of the Plan.

China released a List of Recommended Alternatives to Ozone-Depleting Substances to guide and promote low-global warming potential alternatives to ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Although the List is not legally enforceable, it does play a major role in encouraging and supporting scientific research, technical development, and market deployment of ODS alternatives in China, consistent with China’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

In May 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment released its annual Ecological and Environmental Status Bulletin for 2022. The Environmental Bulletin provides a comprehensive overview of China’s ecological and environmental quality over the past year.

In 2020, China announced the goals to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Subsequently, in 2021 and 2022, severe power shortage incidents heightened China’s concerns over energy security. China has since issued a number of policy documents aiming to address the balance between energy security and its carbon emissions and carbon neutrality goals. This briefing aims to assist IGSD partners and climate champions in understanding the dynamics of reaching China’s climate goals.

During its January 2023 press conference, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) highlighted progress on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas monitoring and evaluation pilot projects aimed at answering critical questions on “what to measure,” “where to measure,” and “how to measure.”

The China National Energy Administration (NEA) has highlighted a number of actions that China will take to promote the development and utilization of coalbed methane. The actions were described in a document posted on the NEA website, available here. These actions are expected to be further incorporated into and implemented through national policies and plans.

China Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and National Development and Reform Commission jointly released the Implementation Plan for Carbon Peaking in Urban and Rural Development (hereinafter referred to as “the Plan”). The Plan guides China’s measures to peak carbon emissions before 2030, including actions to reduce the emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, including methane.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Ministry of Commerce jointly released the Opinions on Promoting the Green Development of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. The Opinions are the latest in a number of China policy developments aimed at curbing the environmental and climate-forcing impacts of Chinese overseas projects and exports.

China’s State Council issued the 14th Five-Year Comprehensive Work Plan on Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction. The Energy Work Plan reflects key actions to implement the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, adopted on 11 March 2021. This Work Plan will serve as a primary nationwide guide for China’s actions to address non-CO2 climate pollutants and achieve the green transformation of its economy.

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Ministry of Commerce jointly released the Guidelines on Ecological and Environmental Protection of Foreign Investment and Construction Projects. The 2022 Guidelines recommend environmental protection practices for China’s overseas investment and construction projects. In particular, the Guidelines aim to reduce pollution, mitigate climate change, and protect biodiversity in China’s overseas investment countries and markets, including those in Belt and Road Initiative countries.