China

Overall rating
Highly insufficient
Policies & actions
Insufficient
< 3°C World
Domestic target
Insufficient
< 3°C World
Fair share target
Highly insufficient
< 4°C World
Climate finance
Not assessed
Net zero target

year

Before 2060

Comprehensiveness not rated as

Information incomplete
Land use & forestry
Not significant

References

  • Asia Pacific Energy. (n.d.). CHINA: Energy Supply and Consumption Revolution Strategy (2016-2030). Asia Pacific Energy. Retrieved March 6, 2021, from https://policy.asiapacificenergy.org/node/3587
  • Baptista, E. (2021). China’s 2060 carbon neutral goal ‘covers other greenhouse gases.’ South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3142771/chinas-2060-carbon-neutral-goal-covers-other-greenhouse-gases
  • BBC. (2020). Coronavirus: Car sales in China fall 92% in February. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51583348
  • Bloomberg. (2020). China’s 40 Year, Billion Tree Project Is a Lesson for the World. Bloomberg Green. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-14/china-s-40-year-billion-tree-project-is-a-lesson-for-the-world
  • Bloomberg. (2021). Peak aluminium looms for China as Xi pushes new green mission. The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/peak-aluminium-looms-for-china-as-xi-pushes-new-green-mission
  • Bloomberg Green. (2020). China to Give Gas Guzzlers More Time While Promoting EVs. Bloomberg Green2=. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-16/china-to-give-gas-guzzlers-more-time-while-promoting-evs
  • BloombergNEF. (2019a). Electric Vehicle Outlook 2019. https://about.bnef.com/electric-vehicle-outlook/
  • BloombergNEF. (2019b). New Energy Outlook 2019: Executive Summary. Bloomberg New Energy Outlook. https://bnef.turtl.co/story/neo2019?teaser=true
  • CEC. (2019). Electric Power Equipment Management. https://www.cec.org.cn/yaowenkuaidi/2019-01-29/188578.html
  • CEC. (2020). [Chinese] Electricity Industry Operations Summary, January-June 2020. China Electricity Council. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GabK1Q0wMf4nv9l4fTgmJg
  • CEC. (2021). National electricity supply and demand situation analysis and forecast report for the first quarter of 2021 (Chinese). China Electricity Council. https://www.cec.org.cn/detail/index.html?3-295685
  • CGTN. (2021). Full text: Xi Jinping’s speech at Climate Ambition Summit 2020. CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-12-12/Full-text-Xi-Jinping-s-speech-at-Climate-Ambition-Summit-2020-WaztGQcuBO/index.html
  • Cheng, E. (2020). Electric cars take the spotlight in China’s post-coronavirus stimulus plans. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/04/electric-cars-take-the-spotlight-in-chinas-post-coronavirus-stimulus-plans.html
  • China - Energy Policy Tracker. (2020, July 15). Energy Policy Tracker. https://www.energypolicytracker.org/country/china/
  • Client Earth. (2020). China introduces new law to safeguard forests and improve governance. Client Earth. https://www.clientearth.org/china-introduces-new-law-to-safeguard-forests-and-improve-governance/
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2016). The ten most important short-term steps to limit warming to 1.5°C. Climate Action Tracker. https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/the-ten-most-important-short-term-steps-to-limit-warming-to-15c/
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2020a). Climate Action Tracker: Japan assessment. Climate Action Tracker. https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/japan/
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2020b). Paris Agreement Compatible Sectoral Benchmarks: Elaborating the decarbonisation roadmap. Climate Action Tracker (Climate Analytics, NewClimate Institute).
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2020c). Paris Agreement Compatible Sectoral Benchmarks. https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/paris-agreement-benchmarks/
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2021a). CAT Warming Projections Global Update (Issue May). Climate Action Tracker (CAT). https://climateactiontracker.org/documents/853/CAT_2021-05-04_Briefing_Global-Update_Climate-Summit-Momentum.pdf (accessed on 06 May 2021)
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2021b). Climate Action Tracker Data Portal.
  • Cornot-Gandolphe, S. (2019). China’s Quest for Blue Skies - The Astonishing Transformation of the Domestic Gas Market. https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cornot-gandolphe_china_domestic_gas_market_2019.pdf
  • Daiss, T. (2021). China kicks up renewables push days ahead of global climate summit. Asia Financial. https://www.asiafinancial.com/china-kicks-up-renewables-push-days-ahead-of-global-climate-summit
  • Eckhouse, B. (2019). The U.S. Has a Fleet of 300 Electric Buses. China Has 421,000. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-15/in-shift-to-electric-bus-it-s-china-ahead-of-u-s-421-000-to-300
  • ECMWF. (2020). Amid Coronavirus outbreak: Copernicus monitors reduction of particulate matter (PM2.5) over China. The Copernicus Programme. https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/amid-coronavirus-outbreak-copernicus-monitors-reduction-particulate-matter-pm25-over-china
  • EEO. (2021). Industry input being sought: plan to achieve carbon peak by 2025 (Chinese). EEO. http://www.eeo.com.cn/2021/0406/483962.shtml
  • Energy Foundation China. (2020). Synthesis Report 2020 on China’s Carbon Neutrality: China’s New Growth Pathway: from the 14th Five Year Plan to Carbon Neutrality. https://www.efchina.org/Attachments/Report/report-lceg-20201210/Full-Report_Synthesis-Report-2020-on-Chinas-Carbon-Neutrality_EN.pdf
  • ERI, & NDRC. (2021). China Renewable Energy Outlook 2020. https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/Globalcooperation/creo_2020_executive_summary.pdf
  • Evans, S. (2020). Coronavirus set to cause largest ever annual fall in CO2 emissions. Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coronavirus-set-to-cause-largest-ever-annual-fall-in-co2-emissions?utm_campaign=Carbon Brief Daily Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue newsletter
  • Farand, C. (2019). China pledges to strengthen climate plan. 2 July. Climate Home News. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/07/02/china-pledges-strengthen-climate-plan-2020/
  • Finance Sina. (2021a). National motor vehicle fleet reaches 372 million in 2020 (Chinese). https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/2021-01-07/doc-iiznctkf0700301.shtml
  • Finance Sina. (2021b). Steel industry to reach carbon peak by 2025, 30% reduction in carbon emissions from peak by 2030. Finance Sina. http://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/stockzmt/2021-03-21/doc-ikkntiam5988618.shtml
  • FMPRC. (2020). Statement by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People’s Republic of China At the General Debate of the 75th Session of The United Nations General Assembly. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1817098.shtml
  • Gallagher, K. S., Zhang, F., Orvis, R., Rissman, J., & Liu, Q. (2019). Assessing the policy gaps for achieving China’s climate targets in the Paris Agreement. Nature Communications, 10. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09159-0
  • GBPN. (2018). China. Global Buildings Performance Network. http://www.gbpn.org/activities/china
  • Global Carbon Project. (2020). Carbon budget and trends 2020. www.globalcarbonproject.org/carbonbudget
  • Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, CREA, Climate Risk Horizons, GreenID, & Ekosfer. (2021). Boom and Bust 2021: Tracking the global coal plant pipeline. https://globalenergymonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BoomAndBust_2021_final.pdf
  • Global Witness. (2019). Lessons from China’s Global Forest Footprint. Global Witness. https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/lessons-from-chinas-global-forest-footprint/
  • Government of China. (2018). The People’s Republic of China Second Biennial Update Report on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/China 2BUR_English.pdf
  • Grant, M., Pitt, H., & Larsen, K. (2021). Preliminary 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimates for China. https://rhg.com/research/preliminary-2020-greenhouse-gas-emissions-estimates-for-china/
  • Gray, M. (2021). Turning the Supertanker. https://www.transitionzero.org/insights/turning-the-supertanker
  • Gütschow, J.; Günther, A.; Jeffery, L.; Gieseke, R. (2021). The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series (1850-2018) (Version 2.2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4479172
  • Gütschow, J., Jeffery, L., & Gieseke, R. (2019). The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series (1850-2017), V. 2.1. GFZ Data Services. https://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de/pik/showshort.php?id=escidoc:4736895
  • Hang, A. (2019). Is China Ready for Subsidy-Free Renewables? Greentech Media. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/is-china-ready-for-subsidy-free-renewables#gs.qmlij0
  • Hove, A. (2020). Current direction for renewable energy in China. http://www.nea.gov.cn/2020-02/28/c_138827910.htm
  • ICAP. (2021). China National ETS. https://icapcarbonaction.com/en/?option=com_etsmap&task=export&format=pdf&layout=list&systems%5B%5D=55
  • IEA. (2016). Energy Technology Perspectives 2016. International Energy Agency. http://www.iea.org/etp/etp2016/
  • IEA. (2019). World Energy Outlook 2019. International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/weo2019/
  • IEA. (2020a). China’s Emissions Trading Scheme. https://www.iea.org/reports/chinas-emissions-trading-scheme
  • IEA. (2020b). Global EV Outlook 2020 - Entering the decade of electric drive? https://webstore.iea.org/download/direct/3007
  • IEA. (2021). Global Energy Review: CO2 Emissions in 2020. https://www.iea.org/articles/global-energy-review-co2-emissions-in-2020
  • IGSD. (2019). President Macron and President Xi lead strengthened climate action through cooling efficiency and HFC phase out. Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. http://www.igsd.org/president-macron-and-president-xi-lead-strengthened-climate-action-through-cooling-efficiency-and-hfc-phase-out/
  • IISD. (2019). China Highlights Nature-based Solutions’ Potential to Facilitate Climate Action. IISD. http://sdg.iisd.org/news/china-highlights-nature-based-solutions-potential-to-facilitate-climate-action/
  • IMF. (2021). World Economic Outlook Update: April 2021.
  • Interpol. (2019). Global Forestry Enforcement.
  • Jiankun, H. (2020). China’s Long-term Low-Carbon Development Strategy and Pathway. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzU5MzY5ODIwNQ==&mid=2247489602&idx=1&sn=c6c6ee7b640539cb6f805817173a7990&chksm=fe0dd4b0c97a5da6b00836019650a2adee0075e1b53290703b5c8fdecbfed7081324a47d9a21&mpshare=1&scene=1&srcid=1019QKC14p8bTPZLd0qgMI4p&sharer_sharetime
  • Jones, D., Graham, E., & Tunbridge, P. (2020). Wind And Solar Now Generate One-Tenth Of Global Electricity. https://ember-climate.org/project/global-electricity-h12020/
  • Jun, M., Zadek, S., Sun, T., Zhu, S., Cheng, L., Eis, J., Nielsen, T., Ren, D., Granoff, I., & Stumhofer, T. (2019). Decarbonizing the Belt and Road - A Green Finance Roadmap. https://www.vivideconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Decarbonizing-the-Belt-and-Road-–Final-Report-English.pdf
  • Kemp, J. (2021). Column: China’s five-year plan focuses on energy security. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-china-energy-kemp-idUSKBN2BB1Y1
  • Koty, A. C. (2020). What is the China Standards 2035 Plan and How Will it Impact Emerging Industries? China Briefing. https://www.china-briefing.com/news/what-is-china-standards-2035-plan-how-will-it-impact-emerging-technologies-what-is-link-made-in-china-2025-goals/
  • Lin, J., Khanna, N., Liu, X., Teng, F., & Wang, X. (2019). China’s Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Future Trajectories and Mitigation Options and Potential. Nature, 9. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-52653-0.pdf
  • Lo, J. (2020). China’s environment ministry floats ‘ban’ on coal power investment abroad. Climate Home News. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/12/03/chinas-environment-ministry-floats-ban-coal-power-investment-abroad/
  • Lo, J. (2021). Chinese inspectors slam energy authority over coal expansion spree. Climate Home News. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/02/02/chinese-inspectors-slam-energy-authority-coal-expansion-spree/
  • Lutsey, N., Cui, H., & Yu, R. (2021). Evaluating electric vehicle costs and benefits in China in the 2020-2035 time frame. https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/EV-costs-benefits-china-EN-apr2021.pdf
  • Ministry of Ecology and Environment. (2019). UN Climate Action Summit: China’s Position and Action. Ministry of Ecology and Environment. http://english.mee.gov.cn/News_service/news_release/201909/t20190917_734051.shtml
  • Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China. (2021). U.S.-China Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis (Chinese). http://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202104/t20210418_829133.shtml
  • Mukpo, A. (2020). China’s revised forest law could boost efforts to fight illegal logging. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2020/03/chinas-revised-forest-law-could-boost-efforts-to-fight-illegal-logging/
  • Murphy, B. (2021). Outline of the People’s Republic of China 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives for 2035 (English translation). https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/china-14th-five-year-plan/
  • Murtaugh, D. (2021). China Blows Past Clean Energy Record With Wind Capacity Jump. Bloomberg Green. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-20/china-blows-past-clean-energy-record-with-extra-wind-capacity
  • Myllyvirta, L. (2021). Analysis: China’s CO2 emissions surged 4% in second half of 2020. Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-surged-4-in-second-half-of-2020
  • NASA. (2020). Airborne Nitrogen Dioxide Plummets Over China. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146362/airborne-nitrogen-dioxide-plummets-over-china?utm_source=LINKEDIN_COMPANY&utm_medium=nasa&utm_campaign=NASASocial&linkId=83339383
  • National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2018). China Statistical Yearbook 2018. http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2018/indexeh.htm
  • NDRC. (2016). 能源发展“十三五”规划. http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbghwb/201701/W020170117350627940556.pdf
  • NEA. (2020). Circular on 2023 risk and early warning for coal power planning and construction. China Energy Portal. https://chinaenergyportal.org/en/circular-on-2023-risk-and-early-warning-for-coal-power-planning-and-construction/
  • Oxford Economics. (2021). World Economic Prospects. https://resources.oxfordeconomics.com/world-economics-prospects-download
  • Pearl, H. (2020). China slow to curb coal financing as Japan, South Korea ‘accept new reality’ on phasing out fossil fuels. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3097259/china-slow-curb-coal-financing-japan-south-korea-accept-new?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=article&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1597464998
  • Reuters. (2018). China likely to more than triple nuclear power capacity by 2030 - official. Reuters2. https://www.reuters.com/article/china-nuclearpower-idUSL4N1XJ3AR
  • Reuters. (2019). Chinese Belt and Road plan ‘may result in 2.7C warming.’ Climate Home News. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/09/02/chinese-belt-road-plan-may-result-2-7c-warming/
  • Reuters. (2021). China’s coal share of energy consumption falls in 2020, but overall coal use up. SCMP. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3123464/chinas-coal-share-energy-consumption-falls-2020-overall-coal
  • SASAC. (2019). Trial measures for the regional integration of central government State Owned Enterprises in the coal fired power sector. State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of China. https://chinaenergyportal.org/en/trial-measures-for-the-regional-integration-of-central-government-state-owned-enterprises-in-the-coal-fired-power-sector/
  • Shearer, C. (2020, August 3). Analysis: The global coal fleet shrank for first time on record in 2020. Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-the-global-coal-fleet-shrank-for-first-time-on-record-in-2020
  • Shearer, C., Brown, M., & Buckley, T. (2019). China at a crossroads: Continued support for coal power erodes country’s clean energy leadership. http://ieefa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/China-at-a-Crossroads_January-2019.pdf
  • Shearer, C., & Myllyvirta, L. (2020). A New Coal Boom in China. https://globalenergymonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/A-New-Coal-Boom-in-China_English.pdf
  • Shen, J. (2021). Little mention of China’s EV industry in Five-Year Plan bodes well: experts. Technode. https://technode.com/2021/03/09/little-mention-of-ev-industry-in-five-year-plan-bodes-well/
  • Shu, C. (2021). China Won’t Have Any Issues Beating Its 2021 GDP Target. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-26/china-won-t-have-any-issues-beating-its-2021-gdp-target-chart
  • Stanway, D. (2019). China solar installations to slow as subsidy cuts bite: executive. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-solar/china-solar-installations-to-slow-as-subsidy-cuts-bite-executive-idUSKCN1VR08R
  • Sun, Y., & Goh, B. (2020). China to cut new energy vehicle subsidies by 10% this year. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-autos-electric-subsidies/china-to-cut-new-energy-vehicle-subsidies-by-10-this-year-idUSKCN225177
  • UN Secretary-General. (2019). Press Statement on Climate Change following the Meeting Between the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, Foreign Minister of France and the United Nations Secretary-General. https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2019-06-29/press-statement-climate-change-following-the-meeting-between-the-state-councilor-and-foreign-minister-of-china-foreign-minister-of-france-and-the-united
  • UNEP. (2019). Bridging the Gap – Enhancing Mitigation Ambition and Action at G20 Level and Globally - Pre-release version of a chapter in the forthcoming UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2019. United Nations Environment Programme. https://newclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/UNEP_Emissions_Gap_Report_2019_pre-release_chapter.pdf
  • US DOS. (2021). U.S.-China Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis. https://www.state.gov/u-s-china-joint-statement-addressing-the-climate-crisis/
  • Vincent, D. (2020). The uncertain future for China’s electric car makers. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51711019
  • World Bank. (2019). Illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade: the costs and how to combat it. http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/482771571323560234/WBGReport1017Digital.pdf
  • Xia, D. (2021). China’s Renewable Installations to Stay Strong; Curtailment Risk Low. FitchRatings. https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/china-renewable-installations-to-stay-strong-curtailment-risk-low-01-02-2021
  • Xinhua. (2020). China unveils plan for new energy vehicle industry. Xinhuanet. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/02/c_139485545.htm
  • Xinhua. (2021a). China to control, phase down coal consumption in next decade: Xi. In Xinhua. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/22/c_139899323.htm
  • Xinhua. (2021b). Procuratorate decided to arrest Liu Baohua in accordance with the law. Xinhua. http://www.xinhuanet.com/legal/2021-05/12/c_1127436151.htm
  • Xinhua News Agency. (2021). Outline of the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China and the Vision 2035 (Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-03/13/content_5592681.htm
  • Xu, M., & Stanway, D. (2021). China plans to raise minimum renewable power purchase to 40% by 2030: government document. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-climatechange-renewables-idUSKBN2AA0BA
  • Yvonne Deng, Ursula Fuentes, Hare, B., Welder, L., & Gidden, M. (2020). U.S. and China Climate Goals : Scenarios for 2030 and Mid-Century. https://climateanalytics.org/media/aspi-ca-us_chinaclimategoals-2020.pdf
  • Zheng, W. (2021). China takes aim at corrupt cadres and officials in expanded Inner Mongolia campaign. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3125867/china-takes-aim-corrupt-cadres-and-officials-expanded-inner
  • Zhou, N., Lu, H., Khanna, N., Liu, X., Fridley, D., Price, L., Shen, B., Feng, W., Lin, J., Szum, C., & Ding, C. (2020). China Energy Outlook: Understanding China’s Energy and Emissions Trends. https://china.lbl.gov/china-energy-outlook-2020
  • Zhou, Q. (2021). China’s Two Sessions 2021: GDP Target, Tax Incentives, and 14th Five Year Plan. China Briefing. https://www.china-briefing.com/news/chinas-two-sessions-2021-gdp-target-tax-incentives-and-14th-five-year-plan/

Latest publications

Stay informed

Subscribe to our newsletter