Xi Jinping announces China's carbon neutrality before 2060 and an emissions peak before 2030

On 22 September 2020, in a recorded address to the UN General Assembly, President Xi Jinping announced that China aims for carbon dioxide emissions to peak before 2030 and for carbon neutrality to be achieved before 2060. According to WRI, this is the first time Chinese leadership has committed to climate neutrality.

What the announcement changed

Under the Paris Agreement China had earlier committed to an emissions peak around 2030. The new wording — “before 2030” — therefore meant a tightening, and adding a neutrality year gave climate documents a clear horizon. Former US climate envoy Todd Stern called the announcement “big and important news”. Xi also announced “more vigorous policies and measures” and that China would expand its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement.

Content of the speech

The key sentence, quoted by ESG Today, read: “We aim to have CO₂ emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.” In the same speech Xi called on all countries to develop together: in an innovative, coordinated, green and open way.

Caution in interpretation

The announcement concerned CO₂ emissions, not specific sectors: it did not mention biogas, biomethane or waste management. Helen Mountford of WRI pointed out that China should set more detailed short-term targets and an earlier peak date. The announcement was therefore a starting point, and the specific instruments — sectoral plans, tariffs, quotas — were yet to be developed.

Reactions and form of the speech

The speech took the form of a recorded video message presented to the UN General Assembly (Climate Home News). Helen Mountford of WRI assessed that the announcement strengthens China's national climate commitment, including the emissions peak before 2030. WRI at the same time stresses that this is the first commitment by Chinese leadership to climate neutrality.

Update: the 2021 action plan

On 27 October 2021 the NDRC published the Action Plan for Peaking CO₂ Emissions Before 2030. In the part on new energy sources it announces the development of biomass and biogas power and heating as appropriate to local conditions, and in buildings — clean heating, including from biomass where conditions allow. The plan also provides for faster use of biomass energy in rural areas and for promoting advanced liquid biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels. Only documents like these translate the 2020 declaration into specific sectoral policies.

What this means for Poland/Europe

The 2020 declaration means that the world's largest emitter has a neutrality horizon ahead of it, and for European technology producers (including biogas upgrading) it means a possible rise in demand for low-emission solutions in China. At the same time, competition from Chinese equipment requires verification of quality and certification.