Year in Review: China Takes Pragmatic Approach to Meeting Carbon Emission Goals

China has set a binding “dual-control” target for overall energy consumption and to lower energy intensity by 13.5% in its latest five-year plan through 2025. Photo: VCG

A new tone of pragmatism has been set for China’s decarbonization drive in 2021 following wide-scale power shortages across the country in the latter half of the year, a shift that will have a direct impact on how Beijing fleshes out its action plan to cut carbon emissions.

The top leadership made it clear in December’s central economic work conference that while unwavering efforts will be made to meet last year’s pledges of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality by 2060, the goals won’t be achieved overnight and there should be a pragmatic approach to push them forward.