On 3 December, the industry ministry released the 14th Five Year Plan for the Green Development of Industries. The plan vows to use carbon peaking (by 2030) and neutrality (by 2060) to guide the transition of industries to low-carbon operations and greater efficiency in resource utilisation. It also stresses building the synergy between pollution control and decarbonisation.
In terms of emissions reduction, it aims for 18% lower CO2 emissions per unit of value added by 2025. Also by 2025, it envisions bringing in caps on carbon emissions from the production of steel, nonferrous metals and construction materials. And it sets the target of 13.5% lower energy consumption for large-scale companies.
The sectoral plan, one of a series fleshing out the main 14th Five Year Plan released in March, requires key industries to reduce waste discharge by 10% and sets a 57% recycle rate for bulk industrial solid waste such as steel slag. By the end of 2025, 480 million tonnes of key materials such as steel and glass should be recycled for re-use in new products.
To achieve these goals, the state will build a green low-carbon technology “system” to accelerate the application of new technologies and the emergence of new ones – for example, by building innovation centres – and a supporting system for green manufacturing which involves stronger public services to help businesses.
In addition, a “green credit” system will be established against which companies will be rated, so as to improve their environmental information disclosure. Besides this, public and private finance, as well as the tax system, will be leveraged to help industries considered “green”. International cooperation will be encouraged in the forms of joint-venture green industrial parks, green factories and supply chains, and the internationalisation of green product standards.
Large firms must shave 13.5% from energy consumption by 2025, says govt
