On 26 May 2021, the first plenary meeting of the Carbon Peaking and Neutrality Leading Group was held in Beijing. The meeting was chaired by Vice Premier HAN Zheng. During the meeting, it was emphasized that key provinces, sectors, and companies should set peaking targets and plans as well as strengthen international communication and cooperation. The government should support the research, development, and promotion of green and low-carbon technologies, telling China’s story well through case studies, and promote ecological civilization. In addition to HAN Zheng, participants included Vice Premier LIU He, State Councilor WANG Yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs WANG Yi, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) HE Lifeng, and ministers from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and various other ministries. On 28 May 2021, NDRC Chairman HE Lifeng presided over the first meeting of the ‘Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutral Leading Group Office’, which called for the implementation of important instructions from Premier LI Keqiang and Vice-Premier HAN Zheng and made preparations for upcoming work.
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.
