Carbon peak and carbon neutrality in China: Goals, implementation path, and prospects

TLDR

China faces the global challenge of climate change, and the Chinese government has pledged to peak CO₂ emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, ushering in a climate‑economy era with both opportunities and challenges. The paper aims to clarify China’s carbon‑peak and neutrality objectives and examine the main implementation pathways and future prospects. China’s strategy is built on four pillars: emission control through energy transformation and conservation, expanding carbon sinks via capture, utilization, storage, ecological governance, and land greening, advancing key technologies such as zero‑carbon utilization and CCS, and strengthening policy frameworks including legal guarantees and market mechanisms. The study concludes that these pathways will drive low‑carbon, circular, and high‑quality economic growth, accelerate energy transformation, and foster integrated green innovation toward carbon neutrality.

Abstract

Climate change is a common problem in human society. The Chinese government promises to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and strives to achieve carbon neutralization by 2060. The proposal of the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutralization has led China into the era of climate economy and set off a green change with both opportunities and challenges. On the basis of expounding the objectives and specific connotation of China's carbon peak and carbon neutralization, this paper systematically discusses the main implementation path and the prospect of China's carbon peak and carbon neutralization. China's path to realizing carbon neutralization includes four directions: (1) in terms of carbon dioxide emission control: energy transformation path, energy conservation, and emission reduction path; (2) for increasing carbon sink: carbon capture, utilization, and storage path, ecological governance, and land greening path; (3) in key technology development: zero-carbon utilization, coal new energy coupling, carbon capture and storage (CCUs), energy storage technology and other key technology paths required to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutralization; (4) from the angle of policy development: formulate legal guarantees for the government to promote the carbon trading market; Formulate carbon emission standards for enterprises and increase publicity and education for individuals and society. Based on practicing the goal and path of carbon peak and carbon neutralization, China will vigorously develop low carbon and circular economy and promote green and high-quality economic development; speed up to enter the era of fossil resources and promoting energy transformation; accelerate the integrated innovation of green and low-carbon technologies and promote carbon neutrality.