China will strive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.9% for every unit of GDP over the next year, according to the State Council’s 2024-25 carbon reduction emission plan, accounting for a total of about 260 million tons of carbon dioxide over the next two years.
To achieve this, the State Council called for expanded renewable energy sources and infrastructure to account for 18.9% of energy use in 2024, increasing to 20% in 2025. In addition to reducing coal use by 50 million tons, Beijing also floated a ban on over-excessive steel manufacturing — crucial for China’s green tech boom but notoriously polluting.
These ambitions are part of China’s 14th five-year-plan, dubbed “14FYP,” of reducing total CO2 emissions by 18% for every unit of GDP and overall energy use by 13.5% per GDP unit between 2021 and 2025.
The plan is a step on the road to China’s ultimate goal to peak emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
Source: Semafor