By Li Jifeng, Guo Jiaofeng, Gao Shiji & Chen Yi, Research Team on “Ways to Achieve China’s Goal of Realizing Peak Carbon Dioxide Emissions by 2030 and Carbon Neutrality by 2060”, Research Institute of Resources and Environment Policies, DRC

Research Report, No.49, 2021 (Total 6114) 2021-3-12

Abstract: President Xi Jinping pointed out at the UN General Assembly held in September 2020 that China will strive to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. His remarks are the guidelines for us in pushing ahead with the construction of ecological civilization and addressing climate changes. We need to align the goal of achieving peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality with the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country. In face of the unprecedented huge challenges, we need to form a common social understanding on low-carbon development, flesh out the policy arrangements for reducing carbon emissions, and foster green and circular industries full of dynamism with low carbon emissions. These tasks will take us for at least 10 to 15 years before completion if we make a start in 2021. This paper notes that these tasks could be realized in four stages: 1. A period for the realization of peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030; 2. A period for transitional carbon emissions reduction; 3. A period for swift carbon emissions reduction; 4. A period for the realization of carbon neutrality before 2060. The work needs to be done step by step and in a stable and proper fashion.

Keywords: countermeasures to realize carbon neutrality, climate changes, green growth drivers, four stages