China has announced a comprehensive plan to accelerate its green transition across all economic and social sectors, marking the country’s first systematic deployment of green targets. The 33-point guidelines, released on Sunday by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, outline ambitious goals for the nation to achieve remarkable results in green development by 2030 and to establish a green, low-carbon, and circular economic system by 2035.
“A prominent feature of this document is the word ‘comprehensive,'” said Liu Qiong, director of the National Energy Conservation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). “It means integrating the requirements of green transition into the overall economic and social development and promoting green transition at all fronts and in all fields and regions.”
The guidelines set quantitative targets for various sectors. By 2030, China’s energy conservation and environmental protection industry is expected to reach a scale of about 15 trillion yuan (approximately \$2.1 trillion). The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption will increase to about 25%, and the installed capacity of pumped storage hydropower will exceed 120 million kilowatts.
Building World-Class Green Industrial Clusters
To achieve these goals, China plans to build world-class green and low-carbon industrial clusters in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Yangtze River Delta region.
“There are existing green and low-carbon industrial clusters in these regions, such as energy-saving and environmental protection industries, new energy vehicle industry, and clean energy industry,” Liu explained.
Liu said that the GBA and the Yangtze River Delta region should build on their strengths and further develop industrial clusters, as they have export-oriented economies, solid industrial foundations, and full-fledged industrial chains.
Digitalization and Green Transformation
The guidelines emphasize the integration of digital technology with green development. Efforts will be made to expand the application of artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and the industrial internet in power systems, industrial and agricultural production, transportation, and construction. This integration aims to realize a green transition powered by digital technology.
Enterprises are encouraged to employ green and smart technologies to transform and upgrade traditional industries, promoting efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Promoting Green Consumption
For the first time, the guidelines make a systematic deployment on green consumption. China plans to boost green consumption by expanding the scope and scale of government procurement of green products, promoting trade-in programs to encourage consumer spending on green products, and carrying out marketing campaigns for new energy vehicles and green home appliances in rural regions.
According to the guidelines, the government procurement policy will be optimized to include more green products. Localities and enterprises are encouraged to offer more incentives to boost trade-in programs and the sales of green products.
On the supply side, the guidelines advocate for green design, green materials, green manufacturing, green packaging, green logistics, and recycling among enterprises. These measures aim to reduce energy and material consumption and mitigate ecological impact.
The government also plans to improve the incentive mechanism for green consumption and strengthen certification management for green products and services. “This entails deepening institutional reforms to further stimulate the vitality of green consumption,” Liu noted.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
