Beijing’s evolving carbon road map balances climate targets and energy security
State Council’s new plan prioritises nuclear and renewable growth to balance surging AI power demand, with climate pledges and aims to overhaul industrial sectors
Beijing has signalled unyielding conviction in its latest action plan to peak emissions within five years, as the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases vows to bolster nuclear and green offerings while ensuring energy security for the economy and burgeoning artificial intelligence sector.
Key metrics in the plan include lowering China’s carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 17 per cent by 2030, relative to 2025 levels, and raising the share of non-fossil energy in total consumption to 25 per cent – reinforcing targets set in recent years.
To wean the nation off fossil-fuel sources, which still make up the majority of supplies, the plan details measures including the clean substitution of coal and the optimisation of oil and gas structures. The country’s use of coal and oil will peak during the 2026-to-2030 period, it declared.