China's carbon neutrality goal more challenging than for developed world

Experts say China will need to make greater efforts than developed countries to achieve carbon neutrality around the middle of the century because it will have less time to reach the goal after its emissions peak.

China aims to see carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, President Xi Jinping announced on Sept 22 while addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video.

Carbon neutrality means the realization of net zero carbon dioxide emissions by stopping emissions, or by both reducing emissions and removing emissions from nature.

He Jiankun, deputy director of China's National Expert Committee on Climate Change, said at a Ministry of Ecology and Environment's briefing on Sunday that the bold target exceeded the international community's expectations.

"Most developed countries reached their carbon dioxide emissions peak in the 2000s and they aimed to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050," he said.

"However, China has just 30 years compared with other countries' nearly 50 years to finish the transition from peak to neutrality.

"But China will try its best to align with the global carbon emissions goal and take more powerful measures, including transforming its energy structure, developing the circular economy and increasing forest coverage, to catch up."

Li Gao, head of the ministry's climate change department, said at the briefing that meeting the goal will require consistent cooperation from various authorities.

"Authorities in ecology and environment, science and technology, finance and energy need to draw up plans according to the major goal and adopt market-based approaches," he said, adding that the clear goal will give a push to green and high-quality transformation of the country's economic structure.

"China's target will also encourage other countries to make more efforts," he said. "It has boosted global confidence and the response to climate change and shown China's initiative to accept international responsibilities as a major country."