Briefings

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced next steps for methane emissions control during the 14th Five-Year period (2021-2025), at its monthly press conference in November 2021. These steps are intended to support China’s targets for achieving net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2060 and implement the U.S.-China Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s.

On 15 November 2021, the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the 14th Five-Year Plan on Industry Green Development (“Plan”). The Plan provides key targets, action items, and mechanisms for the green transformation of China’s industrial sectors. These sectors will play a significant role in achieving China’s goals of peaking carbon emissions […]

On 2 November 2021, The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council issued an important document entitled Opinions on Strengthening the Battle for Pollution Prevention and Control (“Opinions”). Why this is important: The Opinions are another in a growing list of policy documents that China’s national policy authorities have issued. Documents […]

China released a white paper entitled Responding to Climate Change: China’s Policies and Actions with examples of the country’s actions and achievements to date in addressing climate change, in preparation for COP26. Highlights include acceptance of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the establishment of an alliance to control methane emissions in oil and gas enterprises.

China submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contributions and the Mid-Century, Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy (Mid-Century Strategy) to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The key targets provided in the updated NDCs and Mid-Century Strategy are consistent with the provisions in two policy documents that China issued on 22 and 24 October 2021: the Working Guidance for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of the New Development Philosophy (22 Oct. 2021); and (2) the Action Plan for Achieving Carbon Peaking Before 2030 (24 Oct. 2021).

On October 22 and 24, 2021, China issued two policy documents detailing its plans for achieving its carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality goals: (1) the Working Guidance for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of the New Development Philosophy; and (2) the Action Plan for Achieving Carbon Peaking Before 2030. General information and details relevant to the mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants, including methane, are provided below for each of the documents.

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) announced at a press briefing that it will issue additional HFC-related policies and measures to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the Circular on Controlling the Emissions of HFC-23 By-products in advance of World Ozone Day. The Circular was issued as part of China’s efforts to implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

At its monthly press conference, the China Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced plans for domestic regulatory and policy action to implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

At the China State Council press conference, the China Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced actions on non CO2 greenhouse gases, including methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide, and sulfur hexafluoride. Additionally, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced further actions to support ozone-depleting substance management and control.