POLICY NEWS

On 29 September 2026, the Ministry of Transport, together with 11 other government departments and the China State Railway Group, issued the “Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Multimodal Transport and Optimizing the Transport Structure” (2026–2030). By 2030, the plan aims to improve links between railways, ports, inland terminals, logistics parks and industrial zones, strengthening multimodal freight services. Targets include an 80% railway connection rate in multimodal transport areas at coastal ports and more than 90% of freight transfers at key hubs completed within one hour. It also promotes shifts of suitable bulk freight from road to rail and water. For key industries, the plan targets an 85% share of clean transport.

The plan, released on 24 July 2026, focuses on a whole-chain, integrated and resilient freight and logistics system, alongside digitalisation, greener transport and rural connectivity. It envisages shifting freight from road to rail and water, scaling up new energy heavy-duty trucks and using digital tools for logistics operations and safety oversight. Specifically, it targets completion of 90% of freight transfers between transport modes within one hour at key integrated freight hubs and delivery and logistics stations in 90% of administrative villages. The share of new energy heavy-duty trucks is to rise from 4% in 2025 to 20% by 2030.

In July 2026, China released a coordinated policy package that defines its energy transition priorities over the next five years. The package consists of the “Carbon Peaking Action Plan during the 15th Five-Year-Plan (FYP) Period” and the “15th FYP for Building a New Energy System”, supported by the first sub-sector

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.