China State Council Unveils Plan to Peak Carbon Emissions by 2030

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Chinese government has announced a concrete plan to reach its peak carbon emissions by 2030 and then gradually reduce them.

The State Council, the central government of China, issued a notice on the 26th titled ‘Action Plan to Reach Peak Carbon Emissions Before 2030’ to central government departments and local governments at all levels. Previously, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council jointly released the ‘Opinions on Carbon Emission Peak and Carbon Neutrality,’ which included a goal to reduce the proportion of fossil fuel use to below 20% by 2060.

This notice is a detailed plan based on the previously announced opinions, aiming to reach the carbon peak by 2030 and then reduce emissions thereafter. The State Council also set a target to increase the share of non-fossil energy use to around 20% by 2025 and to about 25% by 2030.

The plan includes increasing wind and solar power capacity to over 1.2 billion kW by 2030 and raising hydropower capacity to around 40 million kW by 2025 and 2030, respectively.

Regarding nuclear power, the policy to develop it ‘actively, safely, and orderly’ was reaffirmed.

Additionally, the plan introduced the idea of expanding electricity storage facility capacity to over 30 million kW to ensure smooth power supply during emergencies.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented the goal at the UN General Assembly in September last year to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Following the announcement of this ambitious carbon neutrality plan, there have been expectations that China will gradually move away from coal-fired power generation.