POLICY NEWS

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.

On 9 July 2026, the State Council published the “Action Plan for Carbon Peaking during the 15th Five-Year Plan Period (2026–2030)”. The plan translates the climate objectives of the 15th Five-Year Plan, adopted in March 2026, into sector-level measures for energy, industry, transport, buildings and carbon markets. It is the central instrument through which China intends to reach its target of peaking carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before 2030, and prepare the ground for carbon neutrality before 2060.

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) has issued a new regulation prohibiting the production of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam products that use hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) or HCFC-containing mixtures as blowing agents, effective 1 July 2026. The announcement represents a key step in China’s implementation of the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) and its commitments under the

On 29 May 2026, eleven ministries, including the Ministry of Transport, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Energy Administration, jointly issued the “Implementation Plan for Promoting the Large-scale Application of New Energy Heavy-duty Trucks”. The plan sets out a roadmap to peak carbon emissions in

Jointly issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, this policy “Measures on Comprehensive Evaluation and Assessment for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality”, establishes a formal assessment system for evaluating how provincial-level Party committees and governments implement China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality objectives.
The assessment work is coordinated centrally and implemented by the National Development and Reform Commission together with relevant departments. It applies to provincial-level Party committees and governments, including provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.

The General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued two policies to strengthen energy conservation, carbon reduction, and the assessment of climate-related targets.
This article looks at the first policy, “Opinions on Advancing Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction at a Higher Level and with Higher Quality”, which sets out a broad policy framework for improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, controlling fossil fuel consumption, and accelerating green industrial transformation.

On 13 March 2026, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) was adopted by the National People’s Congress (NPC). An overview article covering the main targets related to climate change and the green transition can be found here. This article focuses on the parts of the Plan that are relevant to low-carbon and resilient territorial and spatial planning as well as urban-rural development.  China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) positions territorial and spatial planning

In the mobility sector, the Plan pushes for system-level transformation in a sector responsible for roughly 10% of national CO₂ emissions. This includes the development of an integrated national transport network, such as the expansion of zero-emission transport corridors (over 10,000 km planned), and a modal shift toward rail and waterways, while promoting intermodal freight systems.