Archives: climate

On 15 August 2025, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council issued the “Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Urban Development”. The top-level policy outlines a phase of urban development focused on improving existing urban areas and increasing efficiency, rather than large-scale expansion. It sets goals for 2030 and 2035 and applies to all city sizes and townships. Key areas include urban infrastructure, resource efficiency, industrial and digital integration, governance, and environmental considerations. The guideline also highlights the development of urban clusters and city groups to support coordinated regional planning.

China’s power market is on its way to achieve greater unity with two new regulations recently released. On 1 October 2025, the NDRC and NEA officially implemented the “Basic Rules for Power Market Measurement and Settlement”. They provide standardised metering, verification, and settlement procedures for power providers, trading centres, aggregators (VPPs), energy storage operators, and grid companies. Meanwhile, the “Plan for Regularised Power Transactions Across Grid Operating Areas” dismantles barriers between the State Grid and China Southern Power Grid, eliminating administrative interference and further advancing nationwide market-based electricity trading.

On 10 September 2025, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu, on behalf of the State Council, delivered a report to the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress on China’s efforts to address climate change and advance its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality (“dual carbon”) goals. The report highlighted progress since the targets were announced in 2020, while also acknowledging ongoing challenges in aligning economic development with emissions reduction.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with three ministries, has issued the Notice on Promoting the Scientific Planning and Construction of High-Power Charging Facilities. The policy sets a target of over 100,000 high-power charging units nationwide by 2027 and introduces clear requirements for open access, technology innovation, and safety standards. This marks a major step toward supporting the rapid electrification of commercial vehicles and advancing the country’s low-carbon transition.