On August 18, 2022, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), along with nine other central departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), released the “Science and Technology Support Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Implementation Plan (2022-2030).”
The action plan proposed the sci-tech innovation actions and safeguard measures to support the goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and make research preparations for realizing carbon neutrality by 2060. It also specifies actions to promote technological breakthroughs and innovation in green and low-carbon energy transformation, low and zero carbon industrial process reengineering, low-carbon construction and transport, negative carbon and non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emission reduction, global cooperation, among others. By implementing the plan, China aims to achieve major breakthroughs in low-carbon core technologies in key sectors and areas by 2025 and support an 18 percent drop in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP and a 13.5 percent drop in energy consumption per unit of GDP from 2020 levels. According to the action plan, China also plans to continue deepening international cooperation in low-carbon science and technology innovation from 2022 to 2030 and build an international network for cooperation in green technology innovation.
Moreover, the plan specifies which technologies and applications will receive financial support. These include among others “clean coal,” new energy, clean manufacturing, low and zero carbon construction and transportation, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and emissions monitoring, verification and accounting. In order to ensure the implementation of the action plan, MoST will strengthen the scientific research system and mechanism, the technical tracking and monitoring and the protection of intellectual property rights of related technological achievements.