15 Examples of China's Policies to Combat Climate Change: A Comprehensive Overview

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There are many misconceptions about China's role in climate change. Some people assume that China is not doing enough to address the issue, or that its rapid economic growth is inherently incompatible with sustainability. However, these assumptions are not entirely accurate. In fact, China has implemented a range of policies and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. For example, China is the world's largest investor in renewable energy and is home to a rapidly-growing electric vehicle market. Additionally, the country has implemented policies to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and protect forests. While there is still more work to be done, China's efforts to combat climate change are making a significant contribution to global efforts to address this pressing issue. 


15 Examples of China's Policies to Combat Climate Change


  1. Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme: China's national carbon trading scheme launched in 2021 covers around 2,200 power companies and more than 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, making it the world's largest carbon trading market by volume.
  2. Renewable Energy Subsidies: In 2020, China's government provided around $15.6 billion in subsidies for renewable energy, representing an increase of 11.8% from the previous year.
  3. Green Building Standards: China has set a target that by 2020, 50% of all new urban buildings will meet green building standards. As of 2019, there were over 7,000 green building projects in China, covering a total area of over 8 billion square feet.
  4. Vehicle Emission Standards: China's sixth stage vehicle emission standards, which were implemented in 2020, are among the most stringent in the world. They require new gasoline-powered vehicles to meet a carbon dioxide emissions limit of 105 grams per kilometer.
  5. Electric Vehicle Incentives: China's central government and local governments provide subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles. In 2020, around 1.2 million electric vehicles were sold in China, accounting for more than 40% of the global market.
  6. Carbon Capture and Storage: China has set a target to have 10 large-scale carbon capture and storage projects in operation by 2020. As of 2019, there were 11 such projects in China, with a total carbon dioxide capture capacity of over 5 million tonnes per year.
  7. Forest Conservation: China's Natural Forest Protection Program, which was launched in 1998, has resulted in the protection of over 73 million hectares of forests. In addition, China has set a target to increase forest coverage to 23% by 2020, up from 21.7% in 2015.
  8. Low-Carbon Cities: China has set a target to build 100 low-carbon pilot cities by 2020. As of 2019, 42 such cities had been established, covering a population of around 280 million people.
  9. Research and Development: China has invested heavily in research and development for clean energy technologies. In 2019, China accounted for around 36% of global spending on renewable energy research and development, according to the International Energy Agency.
  10. Energy Efficiency Standards: China has implemented energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and lighting. These standards have helped to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
  11. Carbon Tax Pilot: China has launched carbon tax pilot programs in several provinces and cities to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The pilot programs cover industries such as power generation, cement production, and aviation.
  12. Renewable Energy Quotas: China has set quotas for renewable energy consumption, which require power companies to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar. The quotas have helped to drive the development of renewable energy in China.
  13. Green Finance: China has established a number of green finance initiatives to encourage investment in clean energy and other environmentally-friendly projects. For example, the government has set up a green bond market to finance sustainable development.
  14. Waste Reduction: China has implemented policies to reduce waste and promote recycling. In 2019, China banned imports of most types of foreign waste, which has led to an increase in domestic recycling and waste reduction efforts.
  15. International Cooperation: China has been actively involved in international efforts to address climate change. For example, China was a key player in the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, and has pledged to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.



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