Work plan for improving the carbon emission statistical accounting system

In accordance with the deployment of the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reforms in All Aspects and Advancing the Modernization of China's Path," the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Accelerating the Comprehensive Green Transformation of Economic and Social Development," and the requirements of the "Work Plan for Accelerating the Construction of a Dual Control System for Carbon Emissions" by the General Office of the State Council, this work plan is formulated by combining goal orientation with problem orientation, focusing on addressing the shortcomings and constraints in the construction of a carbon emission statistical accounting system, and enhancing the capabilities and levels of carbon emission statistical accounting at all levels, in all fields, and across all industries.

I. Main Objectives

By the year, the establishment of carbon emission annual and quick reporting systems at the national and provincial levels will be fully completed. A batch of industry-specific carbon emission accounting standards and product carbon footprint accounting standards will be released and implemented. The construction of the product carbon footprint management system will have made positive progress. The national greenhouse gas emission factor database will be basically established and regularly updated. The capabilities in measurement, testing, monitoring, and analysis related to carbon emissions will have significantly improved.

By the year, a comprehensive carbon emission statistical accounting system will be established, with national and provincial carbon emission statistical accounting systems fully established and effectively operating. The standards and rules for carbon emission accounting in key industries and fields will be further improved, significantly enhancing the carbon emission management capabilities of key energy-consuming and carbon-emitting entities. The product carbon footprint management system will be more refined, ensuring that carbon emission data effectively meets the requirements for carbon emission control at all levels, in all areas, and across all industries.

II. Key Tasks

(1) Establish a comprehensive regional carbon emission statistical and accounting system.

Fully implement the carbon emission statistical and accounting systems at both national and provincial levels, conduct statistical and accounting for carbon emissions at both national and provincial levels, establish annual and rapid reporting systems for carbon emission data at both national and provincial levels, and enhance the timeliness and quality of the data.

In accordance with international compliance requirements, national greenhouse gas inventories are to be compiled annually, with efforts made to improve data collection mechanisms and align inventory compilation methods with international standards. Regions with the necessary conditions are encouraged to compile provincial greenhouse gas inventories.

Encourage regions to refer to the national and provincial carbon emission statistical accounting methods, and formulate carbon emission statistical accounting methods below the provincial level based on the principles of data availability, method feasibility, and result comparability.

Strengthen the basic capacity for carbon emission statistics and accounting at the provincial and below levels, promote the compilation of energy balance tables or simplified energy balance tables at the prefecture-level, and clarify the responsibility for basic data statistics.

(II) Improve the carbon emission accounting mechanisms in key industries and sectors

Leverage the roles of industry authorities and trade associations, focusing on sectors such as electricity, steel, non-ferrous metals, building materials, petrochemicals, and chemicals in the industrial sector, as well as urban and rural construction, transportation, and other areas. Based on industry characteristics and management needs, reasonably delineate the scope of carbon emissions accounting in these sectors. Utilize data from energy and industrial statistics, energy activities, industrial production processes, the national carbon emissions trading market, and the green certificate trading market to conduct carbon emissions accounting for key industries and fields.

Relying on the national carbon emission trading market, carry out carbon emission accounting for the included industries. Deepen data quality management, establish data sharing and joint supervision mechanisms, and strengthen the foundational support for accounting work in key industries.

(III) Improve the methods for corporate carbon emission accounting

Organize the development and revision of carbon emission accounting standards and technical specifications for key industrial enterprises, clearly defining supporting rules for statistical accounting, metering, monitoring, and verification. In conjunction with the carbon emission characteristics of key industrial enterprises, refine the carbon emission accounting methods or guidelines for important processes or facilities, and progressively advance the reporting and verification of carbon emissions in key industrial sectors.

In the calculation of indirect carbon emissions in key industry enterprises, research on the methods for calculating carbon emissions related to the use of non-fossil energy electricity by enterprises. Study the requirements for the methods of offsetting carbon capture, utilization, and storage, as well as carbon sinks, in the carbon emission accounting of enterprises.

Advancing the pilot application of carbon emission automatic monitoring systems in an orderly manner, encouraging enterprises in the power and cement industries to take the lead in trial implementation. Releasing relevant monitoring technical guidelines and standard specifications, conducting comparative analysis with accounting data to enhance the accuracy and comparability of carbon emission monitoring data. Strengthening the metrological verification, calibration, and testing evaluation of the monitoring systems, specifying requirements for data collection and processing methods, data recording formats, and more.

(IV) Establish a project carbon emission and carbon reduction accounting system

Develop guidelines for carbon emission accounting in fixed asset investment projects, conduct research on carbon emission evaluation methods for fixed asset investment projects based on the life cycle theory, and study the establishment of carbon emission entry levels for fixed asset investment projects in key industries.

Develop technical standards, specifications, or guidelines for environmental impact assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from construction projects in key industries, and improve the technical system of environmental impact assessment.

For projects that significantly contribute to carbon reduction and carbon sequestration, research and develop methodologies for voluntary greenhouse gas reduction projects, and establish a domestic-oriented, internationally aligned carbon emission reduction accounting system.

(V) Establish and improve the carbon footprint management system.

Develop and release national standards such as General Rules for Quantifying Product Carbon Footprints, unify the principles, methods, and data quality requirements for product carbon footprint accounting, clarify the methods and requirements for recognizing and accounting for renewable energy consumption, and strengthen the alignment with basic methods and relevant standards for corporate and project carbon emission accounting.

Accelerate the formulation and release of carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for key products, research and develop guidelines for the preparation of product carbon footprint accounting standards, gradually expand the coverage, determine the rules and procedures for adopting industry standards and group standards, and adopt well-implemented group standards as industry or national standards. Strengthen the application of green power certificates in the carbon footprint accounting system for key products.

Strengthen the capacity building for product carbon footprint accounting, cultivate professional talent teams, standardize product carbon footprint professional services, conduct pilot projects for product carbon footprint labeling and certification, and nurture internationally influential institutions for product carbon footprint accounting, evaluation, and certification.

(VI) Establish the National Greenhouse Gas Emission Factor Database

Develop a plan for the construction of a national greenhouse gas emission factor database, organize the development and construction of the factor database, establish supporting management systems for the factor database, standardize data management and daily operations of the factor database, and promptly release a batch of carbon emission factors for major energy categories and key basic products to provide benchmark data for local governments and enterprises to conduct accounting.

Organize the collection, research, actual measurement, and analysis of greenhouse gas emission factors, study and improve the calculation methods for average emission factors of electricity, regularly update the average emission factors of electricity and fossil energy electricity emission factors for the national, provincial, and regional levels, providing support for carbon emission accounting at the national, regional, industry, and enterprise levels.

(VII) Promote the application of advanced technologies and research on new methodologies

Establish a carbon emission accounting mechanism based on power big data, improve the "electricity-carbon analysis model," form a professional team to conduct research on carbon emission data measurement, analysis, and application, standardize data collection, accounting, verification, and application requirements, and continuously enhance the scientific and accuracy of model measurement.

Research on establishing a carbon emission prediction and early warning model, comprehensively considering the economic and social development status of the nation and each provincial region, as well as energy consumption structures, to analyze and forecast the completion of emission control and reduction targets at both national and provincial levels, providing references for policy formulation and work promotion.

Upgrade the "ground-air-space" integrated climate change observation network, construct high-precision greenhouse gas observation stations and a three-dimensional monitoring system, and enhance the application of satellite remote sensing technology for high-precision continuous carbon emission measurements.

Strengthen the research on accounting methodologies for carbon capture, utilization, and storage, clearly defining the accounting scope and methods for carbon capture, transportation, utilization, and storage. Develop methods and standards for the certification of clean and low-carbon hydrogen, and conduct accounting for carbon emission reduction effects.

(VIII) Strengthen International Cooperation

Strengthen communication and alignment with major trading partners on carbon emission accounting rules, and engage in international coordination and cooperation in areas such as carbon emission accounting, measurement, testing, monitoring, analysis, standards, and certification. Actively participate in the revision of international carbon emission accounting standards and international measurement comparisons.

Strengthen international cooperation in building the basic capabilities for carbon emission accounting, enhance exchanges and cooperation with foreign parties in methodology research, technical specification formulation, and professional talent training, encourage Chinese and foreign enterprises and institutions to engage in cooperation in the construction of background databases, sharing of reference data, and carbon labeling certification of products based on market principles.

III. Organization and Implementation

(1) Strengthen work coordination. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the National Bureau of Statistics, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration, establish a coordination mechanism for carbon emission statistical accounting. This mechanism coordinates important policies, strengthens data management, enhances data application, conducts basic research, and promotes the formation of a united effort.

(II) Strengthen data management. Carbon emission data at the national, regional, and sectoral levels are to be managed and applied in accordance with the principle of "who calculates, who manages, who is responsible." In response to the dual control requirements for carbon emissions, the National Development and Reform Commission, in collaboration with relevant departments, will oversee the aggregation, hierarchical management, and interdepartmental sharing of carbon emission data. This data will be used to conduct trend analysis, provide early warnings, evaluate performance, and conduct assessments. The analysis results will be promptly shared with the data-providing departments.

(III) Strengthen the implementation of scheduling. Each region should formulate specific plans to implement relevant work, effectively enhance the construction of its carbon emission statistical accounting system, consolidate the foundation of carbon emission statistical accounting, and proactively conduct analysis and outlook on carbon emissions in the region. The National Development and Reform Commission will, in conjunction with relevant departments, conduct scheduling inspections on the implementation progress of each region at an appropriate time, and provide guidance and assistance to regions with lagging progress.