China on Sunday released a guideline to implement the carbon peak and neutrality under the new development philosophy.

The guideline, jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, introduced the roadmap for achieving peak carbon by 2030 and neutrality by 2060 – goals China first announced in September last year.

By 2025, the country will build an economic system of green, low-carbon and circular development, and the energy utilization efficiency of key industries will be greatly improved, said the guideline.

By 2030, remarkable results will be seen in the overall green transformation of economic and social development, and the energy utilization efficiency of key energy-consuming industries will reach the international advanced standard.

By 2060, a green, low-carbon and circular economic system and a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system will be fully established. The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption will be over 80 percent, according to the guideline.

Industrial upgrading

In addition, the guideline stressed upgrading the industrial structure, including promoting green agriculture, and advancing peak carbon in steel, non-ferrous metals, petrochemical, building materials, transportation, construction and other industries.

The guideline said blindly developing energy-intensive and high-emission projects is prohibited. The country will introduce production control policies for coal power, petrochemical, and coal chemical industries, and enhance guidance on overcapacity.

The country will accelerate the development of new-generation information technology, biotechnology, new materials, high-end equipment, new energy vehicles, aerospace, marine equipment and other strategic emerging industries.

Efforts made

In July this year, China launched the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market, aiming to realize the optimal allocation of resources and guide emission control companies in their low-carbon transformation through price signals formed by the market. 

In August, China set up a carbon emission statistical accounting working group to accelerate the establishment of a unified and standardized carbon emission statistical accounting system, and coordinate carbon emission statistical and accounting work across regions and industries.

In October, the country said it plans to set up and improve the standards of carbon peak and neutrality.

The country is currently the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide and also the biggest investor in renewable energy sources.

Over the last five years, the share of clean energy consumption in the country rose from 19.1 to 24.3 percent, data from the National Energy Administration showed.