- China’s 15th Five-Year Plan prioritises green development with stricter carbon controls and expanded clean-energy capacity.
- The country plans to build zero-carbon industrial parks and promote low-carbon lifestyles to support its long-term environmental goals.
China has entered a crucial phase in its green transformation, marked by the launch of a new round of national ecological and environmental inspections. Ten inspection teams have been sent to regions such as Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, while additional missions are examining ecological protection along the historic Grand Canal. These coordinated actions underscore China’s commitment to enhancing environmental governance.
The Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, adopted in October, reinforce this direction by declaring green development a defining feature of Chinese modernisation. Guided by the idea that “Green is Gold,” China aims to advance its carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality goals through simultaneous efforts to cut emissions, reduce pollution, expand clean energy capacity, and promote high-quality growth.
A significant element of the plan is the shift to dual controls on total carbon emissions and emission intensity. This new, more precise framework will replace broader energy consumption limits and enable China to pursue its climate goals more directly. Supporting mechanisms will include carbon assessments for local governments, carbon management for industries and enterprises, and detailed product carbon-footprint tracking, forming a unified system that encourages emission reduction across all sectors.
By the end of the plan period, China aims to meet most of its new electricity demand with clean energy sources. It will expand non-fossil energy sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power, develop biomass and geothermal resources, and shift coal from its mainstay role to a flexible backup. A modern power system will also be built to ensure green electricity is efficiently generated, transmitted and used.
China will simultaneously expand new green industries while phasing out high-polluting capacity. Plans include establishing around 100 zero-carbon industrial parks and launching targeted energy-saving campaigns in key sectors, with expected savings of over 150 million tonnes of standard coal and a reduction of about 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The transition will reshape production and daily life. By 2030, China expects significant solid waste reuse to reach 4.5 billion tonnes, while greener transportation and energy-efficient infrastructure are expected to grow. Meanwhile, nationwide campaigns will promote low-carbon living and the broader adoption of green products.
Ultimately, these measures aim to build a “Beautiful China” where economic growth and ecological health advance together, creating a modernisation model in which people and nature thrive in harmony.