Interpretation of the Decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee | Establishing a Green and Low Carbon Development Mechanism by National Forestry and Grassland Administration on July 22, 2024, 09:30 at Beijing.
The Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting the Chinese Path to Modernization, released on the 21st, outlines plan to deepen the reform of the ecological civilization system and proposes improvements to the green and low-carbon development mechanism.
The decision emphasizes the goal of building a beautiful China by accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. It aims to enhance the ecological environment governance system, promote ecological priorities, conservation, and intensive, green, and low-carbon development, and foster harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
To improve the mechanism for green and low-carbon development, several major initiatives are proposed, including implementing fiscal, financial, investment, and pricing policies, and establishing standard systems to support green and low-carbon development. Additional initiatives include optimizing government green procurement policies, accelerating the planning and construction of new energy systems, establishing a new mechanism for comprehensive transformation from energy consumption dual control to carbon emission dual control, and developing a carbon emission statistical accounting system, product carbon labeling certification system, and product carbon footprint management system.
China’s economic and social development has now entered a stage of accelerated green and low-carbon high-quality development. Green and low-carbon development should be seen as a key strategy for addressing ecological and environmental issues. By adopting green and low-carbon development, we aim to fundamentally resolve ecological and environmental challenges, accelerate the formation of green production and lifestyles, and cultivate a foundation for high-quality development.
However, it is important to note that the overall level of green and low-carbon development in China is still relatively low. The internal driving force for comprehensive green transformation in economic and social development is insufficient, and the foundation remains weak.
Yu Hai stated that the series of reform arrangements proposed in the decision are both robust and practical. They will further harmonize the relationship between development and protection, transform natural and ecological wealth from green mountains and rivers into social and economic wealth, and promote the construction of a more advanced new energy system in China. Additionally, these measures will improve the basic systems ensuring the efficient operation of the carbon market.
Promoting the implementation of these reform measures will elevate China’s economic and social green and low-carbon development to a new level, supporting high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment,” said Yu Hai.
