context: As a follow up to the implementation plan on setting up a carbon footprint management system issued in June, four central agencies issued a notice to solicit research topics on carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for key industrial products On 14 September. The goal is to develop industry or national standards to support the creation of a carbon footprint management system for industrial products. Meanwhile, a pilot program to create a carbon footprint labels and certification system was announced on 9 September.
The notice on research topics on carbon footprint accounting outlines specific research and technical requirements, ensuring that all new standards align with the national standard guidelines on carbon footprint accounting, explains Zhang Bin 张彬 MEE (Ministry of Ecology and Environment) Policy Research Centre for Environment and Economy Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction Collaborative Research Department deputy director.
This is crucial for maintaining a unified approach across sectors. Standards are the technical support for economic activities and social development, and an important aspect of the country's basic system, Zhang stresses.
The notice prioritises the development of carbon footprint standards for industrial intermediates such as steel, cement and lithium batteries, as well as other key products that are crucial for supply chains, Zhang notes. He emphasises that targeting these products is essential, as they drive significant carbon emissions and their accounting is vital for emission reduction efforts across industries.
While the notice specifies 15 key industrial products, it allows for flexibility. Other products with urgent market demand and strong supply chain effects can be included, which ensures the initiative can evolve and expand as needed.
Zhang notes the structured process set out in the notice for relevant organisations to submit research proposals. Government agencies will review and select the best research projects, which will then be developed into group, industry or national standards. The notice provides an opportunity for enhanced collaboration between various departments and industries, contends Zhang.
He recommends prioritising industrial products that have the most urgent need for carbon footprint accounting, promoting the gradual release of carbon footprint data for key products and deepening the application of the results to support PRC’s carbon reduction goals.
The notice is part of broader national efforts to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Establishing standardised carbon accounting rules will help industries identify emission hotspots and promote reductions, making it a critical step in implementing national carbon management objectives.