In September 2020, China announced that it would aim to reach a peak in its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Over the past decade, China has remained the world’s biggest producer and consumer of energy, while its energy-related CO2 emissions had grown to account for 28% of the global total preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. China’s scale, and the need to balance economic development with emission reductions, therefore present significant challenges to its transition to net zero.
This report draws on IRENA’s existing, technology-focused studies to offer key insights from global experiences relevant to China’s energy transition. It aims to facilitate knowledge exchange between China and the rest of the world, prompt related discussions and inform the further work needed to chart China’s path to carbon neutrality by 2060.
The complete report can be accessed here