Xi Jinping: Thoroughly analyze the situation and tasks facing the work of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and ensure that the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee are implemented in a solid and effective manner.

On the afternoon of January 24, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held its 36th collective study session on striving to achieve the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. While presiding over the session, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is an intrinsic requirement for implementing the new development philosophy, forging a new development pattern, and promoting high-quality development; it is also a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee in light of both domestic and international contexts. We must conduct an in-depth analysis of the situation and tasks facing the work of advancing carbon peak and carbon neutrality, fully recognize the urgency and complexity of achieving the “dual carbon” goals, identify the key priorities that need to be addressed, align our thinking and understanding, and ensure that the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee are earnestly put into practice.

At this collective study session of the CPC Central Politburo, members engaged in self-study and shared their work experiences. Comrades Liu He, Li Qiang, Li Hongzhong, and Hu Chunhua delivered remarks, drawing on their respective areas of responsibility and local work, followed by a round of exchange among all participants.

While presiding over the study session, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. He pointed out that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee has implemented the new development philosophy, unswervingly pursued a path of ecological priority and green, low‑carbon development, and worked vigorously to promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, achieving remarkable results. We have established and improved an economic system for green, low‑carbon, and circular development, continuously adjusted industrial and energy structures, launched the national carbon market, announced that no new coal‑fired power projects will be built overseas, accelerated the formulation of a “dual carbon” policy framework, and actively participated in international climate change negotiations, thereby demonstrating the responsibility of a major country. Achieving the “dual carbon” goals is not something imposed on us by others; it is something we must accomplish ourselves. China has entered a new stage of development, and advancing the “dual carbon” agenda is an urgent necessity for addressing pressing resource and environmental constraints and realizing sustainable development; for keeping pace with technological progress and driving the transformation and upgrading of the economic structure; for meeting the growing public demand for a beautiful ecological environment and fostering harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature; and for proactively shouldering the responsibilities of a major country and contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We must fully recognize the importance of achieving the “dual carbon” goals and strengthen our confidence in advancing this work.

Xi Jinping emphasized, Achieving the “dual carbon” goals is a broad and profound transformation. …cannot be achieved effortlessly. We must enhance our strategic thinking, integrate a systems‑based approach throughout the entire process of achieving the “dual carbon” goals, and pay close attention to properly managing four key sets of relationships: First is the relationship between development and emissions reduction. Emission reduction does not mean curtailing productivity or eliminating emissions altogether; rather, it calls for pursuing a development path that prioritizes ecology and embraces green, low‑carbon growth—fostering a green transition through economic development and achieving even greater progress in the course of that transition. We must adhere to integrated planning, ensuring energy security, the stability of industrial and supply chains, and food security while reducing carbon emissions, thereby safeguarding the normal livelihoods of the people. Second, the relationship between the whole and the part. It is essential both to strengthen the sense of national unity and coordination, ensuring that policies and measures are well aligned and mutually reinforcing, and to take full account of the objective realities of regional resource endowments and industrial division of labor, so as to formulate tailored strategies for industrial restructuring and “dual carbon” action plans in each locality—avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Third, the relationship between long-term and short-term goals. We must both ground ourselves in the present, addressing concrete issues step by step and turning small victories into major ones, and adopt a long-term perspective, overcoming the mindset of seeking quick results and rushing for success. We need to strike the right balance in the pace and intensity of carbon reduction, proceeding from reality, advancing steadily, and sustaining our efforts over time. Fourth, the relationship between government and the market. We must pursue a dual-pronged approach, fostering closer synergy between a proactive government and an efficient market, and establishing and improving incentive and constraint mechanisms for achieving the “dual carbon” goals.

Xi Jinping pointed out that, To advance the “dual carbon” goals, we must adhere to the principles of national coordination, prioritizing conservation, dual‑engine drive, seamless domestic and international integration, and risk prevention. This will enable us to better leverage China’s institutional strengths, resource endowments, technological potential, and market dynamism, and accelerate the development of an industrial structure, production model, lifestyle, and spatial layout that conserve resources and protect the environment. 。

First, strengthen overall coordination. The “dual carbon” initiative must be integrated into the overarching framework of ecological civilization and the broader context of economic and social development. We will steadfastly advance carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion, and economic growth in a coordinated manner, accelerate the formulation and promulgation of relevant plans, implementation schemes, and supporting measures, and ensure the effective organization and execution of the “Ten Major Actions for Peaking Carbon Emissions,” while strengthening policy alignment. All regions and departments must adopt a holistic perspective, scientifically manage the pace of peaking carbon emissions, clearly define responsible entities, specific tasks, and deadlines, and proceed steadily and in an orderly fashion.

Second, advance the energy revolution. We must ground our efforts in China’s endowment of energy resources, adhere to the principle of establishing new systems before dismantling old ones and adopting a holistic planning approach, and ensure that the gradual phase-out of conventional energy is underpinned by safe and reliable alternatives from new energy sources. We need to intensify efforts to plan and build a new‑energy supply and consumption system based on large‑scale wind, solar, and other renewable power bases, supported by clean, efficient, advanced, and energy‑saving coal‑fired power plants in their surrounding areas, and carried by stable, secure, and reliable ultra‑high‑voltage transmission and transformation networks. We must resolutely curb fossil‑energy consumption, particularly by strictly and rationally controlling the growth of coal use, phasing out coal in an orderly manner, and vigorously promoting the integrated “three‑transformations” of coal‑fired power plants: energy efficiency and carbon‑reduction upgrades, flexibility upgrades, and heating‑supply upgrades. We should consolidate the domestic energy production base, ensure the security of coal supplies, maintain steady growth in crude oil and natural gas production capacity, strengthen the development of reserves for coal, gas, and oil, and advance the large‑scale deployment of cutting‑edge energy‑storage technologies. We must give higher priority to fostering the development of new and clean energy, actively and orderly expanding photovoltaic, silicon‑based, hydrogen, and other renewable energy sectors. We should promote the deep integration of energy technologies with modern information, new materials, and advanced manufacturing, and explore new models of energy production and consumption. We need to accelerate the development of large‑scale, cost‑effective new energy sources—such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, ocean, and hydrogen—and coordinate hydropower development with ecological protection, while advancing nuclear power in a proactive, safe, and orderly manner.

Third, advance industrial optimization and upgrading. We must seize the opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, promote the deep integration of emerging technologies—such as the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence, and fifth-generation mobile communications (5G)—with green and low-carbon industries, build a green manufacturing and service system, and increase the share of green and low-carbon industries in the overall economy. We must rigorously control carbon emissions from new projects and resolutely curb the unchecked expansion of high-energy‑consumption, high-emission, and low‑level projects. We need to make substantial efforts to optimize and upgrade traditional industries—including steel, nonferrous metals, petrochemicals, chemicals, and building materials—while accelerating low‑carbon process innovation and digital transformation across the industrial sector. We should intensify the utilization of waste resources, vigorously develop the circular economy, and reduce the wastage of energy and resources. We must coordinate the development of a low‑carbon transportation system and enhance the quality of green and low‑carbon urban and rural development. We should advance integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, thereby consolidating and strengthening the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems. Finally, we should promote a simple, moderate, green, low‑carbon, civilized, and healthy lifestyle; guide green and low‑carbon consumption; encourage eco‑friendly travel; launch pilot initiatives for green and low‑carbon social action; and raise public awareness of resource conservation and ecological and environmental protection.

Fourth, accelerate the green and low-carbon technological revolution. We must vigorously advance research and development in green and low-carbon technologies, and accelerate the R&D and widespread application of advanced, practical technologies. We need to establish and refine a comprehensive evaluation and trading system for green and low-carbon technologies, and expedite the commercialization of innovative breakthroughs. Furthermore, we should innovate talent‑training models and encourage universities to speed up the development of relevant disciplines.

Fifth, improve the green and low-carbon policy framework. Further refine the dual‑control system for energy consumption, and exclude newly added renewable energy and energy used as raw materials from the total‑energy‑consumption cap. Strengthen the “dual carbon” standards, establish a unified and standardized system for carbon‑emission statistics and accounting, and shift the energy‑dual‑control framework toward a dual control of both total carbon emissions and emission intensity. Enhance relevant laws and regulations, and improve fiscal, tax, pricing, investment, and financial policies. Fully leverage market mechanisms, refine carbon‑pricing mechanisms, and strengthen coordination among carbon‑emission‑rights trading, energy‑use‑rights trading, and electricity trading.

Sixth, actively participate in and lead global climate governance. We must uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, engage more proactively in the global climate negotiation agenda and the formulation of international rules, and advance the establishment of a global climate governance system that is fair, equitable, and based on win-win cooperation.

Xi Jinping emphasized, It is necessary to strengthen the Party’s leadership over the “dual carbon” initiative, enhance overall coordination, enforce rigorous oversight and performance assessment, and foster synergies across all efforts. It is essential to implement the principle of shared responsibility between the Party and the government, firmly assign responsibilities to all relevant parties, incorporate “dual carbon” targets into the comprehensive evaluation system for regional economic and social development, increase their weighting in performance assessments, and strengthen regulatory constraints. Leading cadres at all levels must intensify their study of the fundamental knowledge, implementation pathways, and operational requirements related to the “dual carbon” goals, ensuring they truly learn, understand, master, and apply this knowledge. The “dual carbon” agenda should be integrated as a key component of cadre education and training programs, thereby enhancing the capacity of leading cadres at all levels to advance green and low‑carbon development.

Source: CCTV News Broadcast, Xinhua News Agency, Ministry of Ecology and Environment