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(shí)現(xiàn)碳達(dá)峰、碳中和

碳達(dá)峰，即二氧化碳排放量達(dá)到歷史最高值，然后經(jīng)過平臺期進(jìn)入持續(xù)下降的過程，也是二氧化碳排放量由增轉(zhuǎn)降的歷史拐點(diǎn)。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(shí)現(xiàn)源與匯的平衡。

中共十八大以來，在習(xí)近平生態(tài)文明思想指引下，中國貫徹新發(fā)展理念，將應(yīng)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(qiáng)度削減幅度，不斷強(qiáng)化自主貢獻(xiàn)目標(biāo)，以最大努力提高應(yīng)對氣候變化力度，推動經(jīng)濟(jì)社會發(fā)展全面綠色轉(zhuǎn)型，建設(shè)人與自然和諧共生的現(xiàn)代化。2020年9月，習(xí)近平在第七十五屆聯(lián)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(xiàn)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(dá)到峰值，努力爭取2060年前實(shí)現(xiàn)碳中和。2021年3月，習(xí)近平主持召開中央財(cái)經(jīng)委員會第九次會議，明確將碳達(dá)峰、碳中和納入生態(tài)文明建設(shè)整體布局。2021年9月，中共中央、國務(wù)院印發(fā)《關(guān)于完整準(zhǔn)確全面貫徹新發(fā)展理念做好碳達(dá)峰碳中和工作的意見》，明確實(shí)現(xiàn)碳達(dá)峰、碳中和目標(biāo)的工作原則、主要目標(biāo)和重點(diǎn)任務(wù)。2021年10月，國務(wù)院印發(fā)《2030年前碳達(dá)峰行動方案》，對推進(jìn)碳達(dá)峰工作作出總體部署。

實(shí)現(xiàn)碳達(dá)峰、碳中和，是中國深思熟慮作出的重大戰(zhàn)略決策，是著力解決資源環(huán)境約束突出問題、實(shí)現(xiàn)中華民族永續(xù)發(fā)展的必然選擇，是構(gòu)建人類命運(yùn)共同體的莊嚴(yán)承諾。中國將碳達(dá)峰、碳中和納入經(jīng)濟(jì)社會發(fā)展全局，堅(jiān)持系統(tǒng)觀念，統(tǒng)籌發(fā)展和減排、整體和局部、短期和中長期的關(guān)系，以經(jīng)濟(jì)社會發(fā)展全面綠色轉(zhuǎn)型為引領(lǐng)，以能源綠色低碳發(fā)展為關(guān)鍵，加快形成節(jié)約資源和保護(hù)環(huán)境的產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)、生產(chǎn)方式、生活方式、空間格局，堅(jiān)定不移走生態(tài)優(yōu)先、綠色低碳的高質(zhì)量發(fā)展道路。