Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality

Carbon dioxide peaking is a process in which the emissions of carbon dioxide will reach a historic high and then after a platform period, begin to drop. The peaking is the vaulting point in carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon neutrality means achieving a balance between carbon emissions and carbon sinks by way of increasing energy efficiency and energy replacement to minimize the carbon dioxide emissions by human activities and then offsetting these emissions through means such as forest carbon sinks or sequestration.

Guided by Xi Jinping thought on eco-civilization, China has applied the new development philosophy and prioritized the response to climate change in state governance. It continues to reduce carbon emissions to increase its intended nationally determined contributions in response to climate change, and promotes comprehensive green transformation in economic and social development, with the goal of pursuing modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature.

Speaking at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, President Xi announced that China would scale up its intended nationally determined contributions by adopting vigorous policies and measures to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Carbon peaking and neutrality were included in China's overall plan for environmental protection at a meeting of the Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs under the CPC Central Committee presided over by Xi Jinping in March 2021.

In September 2021, the central authorities adopted a document entitled Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of the New Development Philosophy, which defined the working guidelines, main objectives and key tasks for achieving carbon peak and neutrality. This was followed by an action plan for carbon peaking before 2030, issued by the State Council in October.

After much deliberation, China made the strategic plan to achieve carbon peaking and neutrality – an inevitable decision to address acute resource and environmental constraints and achieve sustainable development. It is part of China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

By incorporating its endeavors to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality into the overall economic and social development framework, and applying a systematic approach, China aims to strike a balance between development and emissions reduction, between overall and regional imperatives, and between short-, medium- and long-term considerations. 

While promoting greener economic and social development in all respects, it will highlight green, low-carbon energy development, expedite the formation of industrial structures, production models, lifestyles and spatial configurations that favor resource conservation and environmental protection, and stay committed to green, low-carbon and high-quality development that gives primacy to eco-civilization.

實現碳達峰、碳中和

碳達峰，即二氧化碳排放量達到歷史最高值，然后經過平臺期進入持續下降的過程，也是二氧化碳排放量由增轉降的歷史拐點。碳中和，即通過能效提升和能源替代將人為活動排放的二氧化碳減至最低程度，然后通過森林碳匯或捕集等其他方式抵消掉二氧化碳的排放，實現源與匯的平衡。

中共十八大以來，在習近平生態文明思想指引下，中國貫徹新發展理念，將應對氣候變化擺在國家治理更加突出的位置，不斷提高碳排放強度削減幅度，不斷強化自主貢獻目標，以最大努力提高應對氣候變化力度，推動經濟社會發展全面綠色轉型，建設人與自然和諧共生的現代化。2020年9月，習近平在第七十五屆聯合國大會一般性辯論上鄭重宣示，中國將提高國家自主貢獻力度，采取更加有力的政策和措施，二氧化碳排放力爭于2030年前達到峰值，努力爭取2060年前實現碳中和。2021年3月，習近平主持召開中央財經委員會第九次會議，明確將碳達峰、碳中和納入生態文明建設整體布局。2021年9月，中共中央、國務院印發《關于完整準確全面貫徹新發展理念做好碳達峰碳中和工作的意見》，明確實現碳達峰、碳中和目標的工作原則、主要目標和重點任務。2021年10月，國務院印發《2030年前碳達峰行動方案》，對推進碳達峰工作作出總體部署。

實現碳達峰、碳中和，是中國深思熟慮作出的重大戰略決策，是著力解決資源環境約束突出問題、實現中華民族永續發展的必然選擇，是構建人類命運共同體的莊嚴承諾。中國將碳達峰、碳中和納入經濟社會發展全局，堅持系統觀念，統籌發展和減排、整體和局部、短期和中長期的關系，以經濟社會發展全面綠色轉型為引領，以能源綠色低碳發展為關鍵，加快形成節約資源和保護環境的產業結構、生產方式、生活方式、空間格局，堅定不移走生態優先、綠色低碳的高質量發展道路。