At the end of August, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) officially approved and released the GB/T 24067-2024 Greenhouse Gas—Product Carbon Footprint—Quantification Requirements and Guidelines, led by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE).
This standard is a foundational component of the Implementation Plan for Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System, jointly issued by 15 ministries, and of the Action Plan for Strengthening the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Standards and Measurement System (2024–2025). It provides guidance for various industries to develop specific product carbon footprint accounting standards. These standards will underpin China’s product carbon footprint management system, supporting the country in achieving its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.
The GB/T 24067-2024 is an adaptation of the international standard ISO 14067 with modifications. On the one hand, it aligns with the internationally recognized lifecycle assessment standards (ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006), specifying the scope, principles, and methods for quantifying product carbon footprints. The standard outlines four stages in the quantification process: defining the goal and scope, lifecycle inventory analysis, lifecycle impact assessment, and interpreting the lifecycle results. On the other hand, the standard introduces a reference framework for developing specific product carbon footprint standards, and proposes methods for calculating product carbon footprints. It also covers requirements for validation reviews, product carbon footprint declarations, and the framework for specific product carbon footprint standards to guide and ensure effective implementation.
MEE will now collaborate with relevant departments to systematically promote the implementation and application of this standard. Following the principles of systematic advancement, prioritization based on urgency, and open collaboration, they will expedite the initiation and development of carbon footprint accounting standards for basic energy, upstream raw materials, and key export products with urgent needs, gradually enhancing the carbon footprint management standard system.
