the State Council held a regular briefing on the policies of the State Council at 10 a.m. on February 26, 2024, inviting Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Zhang Yaobo, Director of the Fourth Legislative Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, to introduce the Interim Regulations on the Management of Carbon Emission Trading and answer questions from reporters.
Among them, a reporter asked, what are the specific industries covered by carbon emissions trading at present? What are the considerations for the next expansion of the carbon market? Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of
Ecology and Environment, said that China's carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in key industries such as power generation, iron and steel, building materials, non-ferrous metals, petrochemical, chemical, papermaking and aviation, which account for about 75% of our country's carbon dioxide emissions. These key industries are highly industrialized and have a certain talent, technology and management foundation, which makes it easier to achieve quantitative control and management of carbon emissions and influence the price of carbon-containing products and services. At present, the national carbon emission trading market has been incorporated into the power generation industry. As I said just now, the emissions are about 5.1 billion tons, accounting for more than 40% of the total carbon dioxide emissions in China. Bringing high-emission industries into the national carbon emission trading market as soon as possible, that is to say, seizing 75% of the national emissions and giving full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of carbon emission resources, can optimize and minimize the cost of carbon reduction in our whole society, thus helping to achieve China's double carbon goal and promoting green low-carbon transformation and beautiful China construction. In
the future, we will adhere to the principle of steady progress, easy first and difficult later, and combine the overall requirements of the state for controlling greenhouse gas emissions with the stage and situation of China's economic and social development. Taking into account the carbon emissions of the industry, the basis of data quality, the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and the high-quality development of the industry, priority should be given to key industries with large carbon emissions, serious overcapacity, good synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and good basis of data quality. The expansion work will grasp the rhythm and strength, scientifically and rationally determine the inclusion time of different industries, and actively promote the carbon emissions trading market to cover key carbon emissions industries in stages and steps, so as to build a more effective, more dynamic and more internationally influential carbon market.
With regard to the expansion work, at present, we have carried out two tasks to introduce to you: First, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has carried out annual carbon emission accounting report verification for the above-mentioned key industry organizations nationwide every year, that is, in addition to the power industry, the other seven industries are not included in the quota control. However, we have carried out the verification of its carbon emissions accounting report. The second is to carry out special research on expansion. Special research, evaluation and demonstration have been carried out on the quota allocation method, accounting report method, accounting requirement guide and expansion implementation path of key industries. The drafting of relevant technical documents has been basically completed. We are actively promoting and striving to realize the first expansion of China's carbon emissions trading market as soon as possible. Carbon emission control and management is a new thing for government departments, industries and even key emission units. We will adhere to the principle of maturity and inclusion, make full use of the existing carbon emission management system and experience, strengthen the system construction, data management, publicity and training of carbon emission management to be included in the industry, so that the key emission units in these industries can be integrated into the carbon market. It can meet the management requirements of the carbon market, ensure the healthy development of the carbon market, promote the green low-carbon transformation and high-quality development of relevant industries and key emission units, and enhance the market competitiveness of enterprises. As one of the main sources of global carbon emissions,
cement industry will undoubtedly have a far-reaching impact on the industry once it is included in the carbon emissions trading market. Firstly, this market-oriented emission reduction mechanism will force cement enterprises to fully consider the cost of carbon emissions in their production process while pursuing economic benefits, so as to accelerate the green transformation and low-carbon development of the whole industry. Enterprises may increase the application of low-carbon technologies and clean energy, such as adopting more efficient production equipment, exploring alternatives to low-carbon cement and improving production processes, in order to reduce the carbon emission intensity per unit of output and meet the requirements of carbon emission quotas.
Secondly, carbon emissions trading will promote the survival of the fittest within the cement industry, and those enterprises that can effectively control and reduce carbon emissions will occupy a favorable position in the market competition, while enterprises with high carbon emissions and low energy efficiency may face greater operational pressure. This will further stimulate the power of technological innovation and industrial upgrading of enterprises, and is conducive to the sustainable development of China's and even the global cement industry. Where should the
cement industry take the lead in reducing carbon emissions? How to find the best balance between "carbon reduction" and "benefit"? On March 28-29, China Cement Network will hold the " 13th China Cement Industry Summit and TOP100 Award Ceremony " in Hangzhou. During the conference, there will be a heated discussion on the theme of "carbon emission quotas, the impact of carbon asset management on the cement industry and the analysis of cement enterprises'response measures". Sign up for it!
