On September 21, the State Council approved new pilot free trade zones in Beijing and in the provinces of Hunan, Anhui, and Zhejiang. In the overall development plan for Beijing, a national CCER trading center will be established. The Beijing Equity Exchange is likely to lead the process. Setting up new free trade zones is an important strategic decision of the central government and the State Council to promote reform and opening-up.
China issues National Climate Plan for 2026–2030
On 27 July 2026, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and 18 other national authorities jointly issued the “National Climate Change Plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan Period”. The plan covers the period 2026–2030 and addresses mitigation, adaptation, carbon markets, product carbon footprints and climate governance.
The plan builds on the objectives of the general 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for National Economic and Social Development, adopted in March 2026, and of the State Council’s “Action Plan for Carbon Peaking during the 15th Five-Year Plan Period”, issued earlier this month. While the “Action Plan for Carbon Peaking” focuses mainly on energy and sectoral carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions, the new national climate plan also addresses non-CO2 gases, climate risk and the data systems needed to implement climate policy.