2030 Green Transition Critical Period: China's State Council Releases '15th Five-Year' Carbon Peak Plan

China's State Council has officially issued the '15th Five-Year Action Plan for Carbon Peak,' comprehensively deploying carbon peak initiatives for the '15th Five-Year' period. The plan stresses that this period is a critical and decisive phase for achieving the carbon peak target before 2030, and calls for leveraging the strategic leadership of carbon peak and carbon neutrality while balancing energy security with economic and social development.

According to the Action Plan, China has set clear quantitative targets: by 2030, carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP must decrease by 17% compared to 2025 levels, and the share of non-fossil fuel energy consumption must reach 25%. These goals will lay a solid foundation for achieving China's 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions and its long-term carbon neutrality vision.

Five Key Tasks and Energy Transition

The plan outlines five major areas of focus, with energy structure adjustment being central.

Energy Optimization: Vigorously develop diverse energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power. By 2030, the total installed capacity of wind and solar power is expected to exceed 2.8 billion kilowatts. At the same time, the plan promotes deeper clean substitution of coal consumption and transitions coal-fired power into a supportive power source.

Industrial Greening: Accelerate the development of green energy and green manufacturing, and strictly control 'high-emission, high-consumption' projects. The plan proposes building approximately 100 national zero-carbon industrial parks and 500 zero-carbon factories during the '15th Five-Year' period.

Transformation of Key Sectors: Promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in buildings, transportation, and public institutions. In the transportation sector, the goal is to increase the share of new energy vehicles to 30% by 2030.

Support and Safeguards: Improve laws and regulations, strengthen the carbon emissions statistics and accounting system, and enhance scientific, technological, and talent development.

Consolidating Synergy: Clarify local government responsibilities, promote green lifestyles among the public, and deepen international cooperation.

Strengthening Financial Support and Major Projects

To ensure implementation, the plan launches six major projects, including inter-provincial power mutual aid, clean substitution of coal consumption, and energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries.

On financial support, China will establish a 'National Low-Carbon Transition Fund,' implement tax incentives, and guide social capital to actively participate in green investment. Additionally, the plan calls for improving pricing policies and expanding the carbon emissions trading market, using market mechanisms to ensure key emitters fulfill their emission reduction responsibilities.

This Action Plan is regarded as the 'blueprint' for achieving carbon peak, requiring all levels of government to tighten accountability and fully integrate green and low-carbon principles into every aspect of the national economy.