On October 8, 2024, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), along with six other national ministries, jointly released the Work Plan for Improving the Statistical Accounting System for Carbon Emissions (hereinafter referred to as the Working Plan). In recent years, China has ramped up efforts to issue high-level plans and policy documents aimed at driving green transitions and carbon reduction. Optimizing the carbon emissions accounting system is a core aspect of achieving these goals and has been emphasized in various national policies. The newly issued Working Plan further allocates specific tasks to realize the objectives outlined in these foundational policies.

The Working Plan aims to boost the quality and timeliness of carbon emissions data, supporting the 15th Five-Year Plan in managing carbon emissions dual control and expediting a green development transformation. The Working Plan outlines two key phases:

  • By 2025. The focus will be placed on consolidating the carbon emission data base, comprehensively improve all aspects of carbon emission accounting system of regions, sectors, enterprises and products.
  • From 2026 to 2030. The focus will be placed oncomprehensively improving the level of carbon emission accounting capacity, constructing and completing a systematic carbon emission statistical accounting mechanism and all relevant aspects.

The Working Plan identifies several primary missions, including local carbon assessment, industrial carbon management, enterprise carbon management, project-level carbon evaluation, and product carbon footprint analysis. These initiatives aim to strengthen accounting systems and standards across regional, industrial, enterprise, project, and product levels. In the next stepts, the NDRC will lead the implementation of the Working Plan, coordinating among stakeholders, guiding regional-level implementation plans, and ensuring relevant departments contribute effectively to the mission’s goals. This coordinated approach aims to support China’s transition towards green development and sustainable carbon management.