Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality
Carbon dioxide peaking is a process in which the emissions of carbon dioxide will reach a historic high and then after a platform period, begin to drop. The peaking is the vaulting point in carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon neutrality means achieving a balance between carbon emissions and carbon sinks by way of increasing energy efficiency and energy replacement to minimize the carbon dioxide emissions by human activities and then offsetting these emissions through means such as forest carbon sinks or sequestration.
Guided by Xi Jinping thought on eco-civilization, China has applied the new development philosophy and prioritized the response to climate change in state governance. It continues to reduce carbon emissions to increase its intended nationally determined contributions in response to climate change, and promotes comprehensive green transformation in economic and social development, with the goal of pursuing modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature.
Speaking at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, President Xi announced that China would scale up its intended nationally determined contributions by adopting vigorous policies and measures to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Carbon peaking and neutrality were included in China's overall plan for environmental protection at a meeting of the Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs under the CPC Central Committee presided over by Xi Jinping in March 2021.
In September 2021, the central authorities adopted a document entitled Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of the New Development Philosophy, which defined the working guidelines, main objectives and key tasks for achieving carbon peak and neutrality. This was followed by an action plan for carbon peaking before 2030, issued by the State Council in October.
After much deliberation, China made the strategic plan to achieve carbon peaking and neutrality – an inevitable decision to address acute resource and environmental constraints and achieve sustainable development. It is part of China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
By incorporating its endeavors to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality into the overall economic and social development framework, and applying a systematic approach, China aims to strike a balance between development and emissions reduction, between overall and regional imperatives, and between short-, medium- and long-term considerations.
While promoting greener economic and social development in all respects, it will highlight green, low-carbon energy development, expedite the formation of industrial structures, production models, lifestyles and spatial configurations that favor resource conservation and environmental protection, and stay committed to green, low-carbon and high-quality development that gives primacy to eco-civilization.
实现碳达峰、碳中和
碳达峰，即二氧化碳排放量达到历史最高值，然后经过平台期进入持续下降的过程，也是二氧化碳排放量由增转降的历史拐点。碳中和，即通过能效提升和能源替代将人为活动排放的二氧化碳减至最低程度，然后通过森林碳汇或捕集等其他方式抵消掉二氧化碳的排放，实现源与汇的平衡。
中共十八大以来，在习近平生态文明思想指引下，中国贯彻新发展理念，将应对气候变化摆在国家治理更加突出的位置，不断提高碳排放强度削减幅度，不断强化自主贡献目标，以最大努力提高应对气候变化力度，推动经济社会发展全面绿色转型，建设人与自然和谐共生的现代化。2020年9月，习近平在第七十五届联合国大会一般性辩论上郑重宣示，中国将提高国家自主贡献力度，采取更加有力的政策和措施，二氧化碳排放力争于2030年前达到峰值，努力争取2060年前实现碳中和。2021年3月，习近平主持召开中央财经委员会第九次会议，明确将碳达峰、碳中和纳入生态文明建设整体布局。2021年9月，中共中央、国务院印发《关于完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念做好碳达峰碳中和工作的意见》，明确实现碳达峰、碳中和目标的工作原则、主要目标和重点任务。2021年10月，国务院印发《2030年前碳达峰行动方案》，对推进碳达峰工作作出总体部署。
实现碳达峰、碳中和，是中国深思熟虑作出的重大战略决策，是着力解决资源环境约束突出问题、实现中华民族永续发展的必然选择，是构建人类命运共同体的庄严承诺。中国将碳达峰、碳中和纳入经济社会发展全局，坚持系统观念，统筹发展和减排、整体和局部、短期和中长期的关系，以经济社会发展全面绿色转型为引领，以能源绿色低碳发展为关键，加快形成节约资源和保护环境的产业结构、生产方式、生活方式、空间格局，坚定不移走生态优先、绿色低碳的高质量发展道路。