China has built one of the world's most comprehensive carbon reduction policy frameworks and developed the largest, fastest-growing renewable energy system. It contributes about one-fourth of the world's newly added green areas and ranks among the countries with the fastest decline in energy consumption intensity, making major contributions to global climate action and sustainable development, according to a white paper released by the State Council Information Office on November 8.

Titled "Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality: China's Plans and Solutions," the white paper reviews the nation's major achievements over the past five years and outlines its approaches, actions, and experience in pursuing its carbon goals.

Five years after announcing its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality commitments, China has made historic progress in advancing a green and low-carbon transition, guided by the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

Peaking carbon and carbon neutrality is a national strategy, with extensive and in-depth initiatives launched, accelerating full-scale green transition of the economy and society.

As energy consumption is the main source of carbon emissions, China has prioritized green energy transition by taking vigorous measures to substitute renewables for fossil fuels and promoting a new energy and power system. These efforts provide strong support for achieving the dual carbon goal.

Industry, transport, construction, and daily life remain key sources of emissions. China has incorporated carbon targets into overall social and economic development, accelerating the establishment of green industries, low-carbon lifestyles, and high-quality development models.

It is promoting innovation in both traditional and emerging industries, upgrading its industrial structure, and fostering green and low-carbon sectors.

The development of low-carbon transport vehicles and equipment has accelerated, gradually optimizing the overall transport structure. Transport infrastructure has been upgraded for green development with the construction of green highways, airways and waterways, green and smart development of newly built stations, airports and ports, and improving new energy transport infrastructure.

Significant progress has been made in energy conservation, emission reduction, circular economy development, and enhancement of carbon sink capacity. During the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 11.6 percent, excluding non-fossil energy use and raw materials.

Tailored waste management policies have promoted the standardized and large-scale recycling of renewable resources. Integrated conservation of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts has been strengthened, boosting the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems. China is the first country to realize zero net land degradation, and its desertified and sandified areas are both shrinking.

At the same time, China is also advancing scientific and technological innovation, improving financial and policy support, and expanding market-based mechanisms to reinforce its carbon reduction efforts. Priority has been given to basic research on key technologies related to carbon neutrality, leading to breakthroughs in renewable energy, energy storage, and smart power grids.

Climate change remains a global challenge that calls for collective action. Committed to multilateralism and cooperation, China is contributing to the development of a new model of global climate governance, the white paper said.

It has pushed for the signing and implementation of the Paris Agreement, and upheld the goals, principles and frameworks of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In addition, China has advanced high-quality international cooperation on green and low-carbon development under various mechanisms including the Belt and Road Initiative, offering financial, technological and capacity-building support to other countries of the Global South.

Looking forward, China stands ready to work with the international community to advance eco-environmental conservation, promote green development, address global climate challenges, protect the green Earth, and secure a cleaner and more beautiful world, the white paper concluded.