On August 25, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) jointly released the “Action Plan for Nitrous Oxide Emission Control in the Industrial Sector”. The plan aims to align China’s industrial policy with its long-term climate goals. It emphasises the green and low-carbon transformation of industry, while also positioning nitrous oxide (N₂O) management as a priority in the country’s strategy for tackling climate change. N₂O (commonly known as “laughing gas”), is a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more potent than CO₂ and is often released during industrial processes.
Main objectives
The action plan outlines specific goals and tasks to reduce N₂O emissions across key industrial sectors.
By 2030, the action plan aims to:
- Establish a comprehensive N₂O emission management system.
- Strengthen policies and regulations for emission control.
- Promote innovation in emission reduction technologies.
- Enhance recycling and utilisation of nitrous oxide.
- Achieve declines in per-unit emissions in key industries, notably adipic acid, nitric acid, and caprolactam production, reaching internationally advanced levels.
From 2030, China intends to progressively tighten control measures across the industry.
Key tasks
1. Targeted emission reduction
The plan prioritises action in adipic acid, nitric acid, and caprolactam production. Enterprises producing these substances are instructed to install advanced abatement equipment and catalytic systems to reduce emissions. Producers of adipic acid, which accounts for the majority of among N₂O emissions, are encouraged to adopt recovery and purification technologies to capture and reuse N₂O rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.
2. Policy and financial support
Recognising that the construction of N₂O recovery and abatement facilities require financial backing, the plan promotes the use of climate finance instruments and investment channels, national green finance support schemes, and voluntary emission trading schemes to incentivise emission reductions.
3. Technological innovation
The action plan underscores innovation as the driver of long-term success and encourages continuous R&D in source control, process optimisation, resource utilisation, monitoring, and abatement technologies. It supports demonstration projects for advanced N₂O control technologies and the inclusion of relevant technologies in the national catalogue of key low-carbon technologies. In addition, it promotes the development and industrialisation of catalysts and integrated control equipment, and closer cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutions.
4. Coordinated pollution and carbon management
The plan promotes an integrated approach to managing both pollution and carbon emissions. Specifically, it seeks to align N₂O management with control of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pollutants that often interact in industrial processes. The plan calls for research on the relationship between green ammonia combustion and N₂O emissions, coordinated control policies linking N₂O reduction with ozone layer protection, the introduction of N₂O assessments into environmental impact evaluations for new projects in key industries.
5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)
A robust monitoring framework is essential to ensure accountability. Key enterprises will be required to report their emissions, while national monitoring and emission standards for N₂O will be developed. The plan also foresees the launch of pilot programmes for automated monitoring systems, and the provision of professional training and capacity-building.
6. International cooperation
Acknowledging the global nature of climate change, the plan encourages international dialogue and cooperation on industrial N₂O control, underlining the role of global mechanisms such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Organisational measures and coordinated implementation
According to the plan, the MEE will lead the overall coordination, working alongside NDRC and MIIT. A cross-ministerial mechanism will allocate responsibilities, resolve key challenges, and oversee implementation. Industry associations and social organisations will promote compliance and share best practices. The ministries are expected to conduct regular evaluations of the plan’s implementation, including tracking key indicators, monitoring progress, and timely adjustments.
Awareness and training
The plan calls for a nationwide training and outreach to disseminate technical knowledge about N₂O reduction. It foresees capacity-building programs for enterprises and closer collaboration among businesses, universities, and research institutes. The plan also aims to develop a pool of skilled professionals for N₂O reduction technologies. It further underlines the importance of public communication to highlight the benefits of emission control efforts.
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (2025): Notice on Issuing the Action Plan for Controlling Nitrous Oxide Emissions in the Industrial Sector
