Prospects of the Two Sessions: Facing the challenge, how does China play the "carbon" tune?

　　China News Agency, Beijing, February 25th: In the face of challenges, how does China play the "carbon" tune?

　　China News Agency reporter Pang Wuji

　　In 2021, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality were written into the work report of the Chinese government for the first time. China, the largest developing country in the world, faced the challenge of "achieving carbon neutrality in the shortest time in history"; in the first year of "testing the water", The policy route of China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality has gradually become clear.

After correcting "one size fits all" and "sporty carbon reduction", how does China play the "carbon" tune?

How does the green transition drive economic development?

　　In the provincial government work reports released by the local two sessions this year, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are still high-frequency buzzwords. Guangxi, Zhejiang, Hebei, Chongqing, Gansu and other places have all made arrangements for "double carbon".

This time, "steady", "orderly" and "scientific" promotion has become the key.

At the upcoming National Two Sessions, the "Double Carbon" material has once again become the focus of attention from all walks of life.

Looking at the official position before, this year's "dual carbon" goal is expected to have four major priorities.

　　First, "carbon reduction" is not productivity reduction.

　　Last year, there was a campaign of "carbon reduction" in some places.

Some goals are set too high and out of touch with reality;

　　In response to these circumstances, the Politburo meeting of the CPC Central Committee held at the end of July last year emphasized that the country should adhere to a game of chess, correct the campaign-style "carbon reduction", establish first and then break, and resolutely curb the blind development of "two high" projects.

Data map: Offshore wind farm (drone photo) Photo courtesy of China News Agency Three Gorges Energy

　　Liu Shijin, deputy director of the Economic Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, pointed out that the key to achieving the carbon neutralization goal is to replace traditional technologies with green technologies.

He pointed out that we should focus on the formation of new green supply capacity and make a smooth transition on the premise of ensuring the safety of industrial supply.

　　Some new policies have already begun to take effect.

Including newly added renewable energy and raw material energy consumption are not included in the total energy consumption control; more scientifically use the dual control indicators of carbon emissions (total carbon emissions and intensity control indicators) to replace the dual control indicators of energy consumption (total energy consumption). Volume and intensity double control) and so on.

　　Second, carbon reduction does not mean "abandoning coal".

　　For a long time, China's energy structure has been dominated by coal.

Towards carbon neutrality, must mines be closed and coal removed?

Experts believe that it is very important to make good use of coal before new energy alternatives are formed.

　　Huang Zhen, vice president of Shanghai Jiaotong University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, believes that when it comes to "zero carbonization of electricity", it is not necessary to say "abandoning coal".

He believes that coal will become a guaranteed energy source in the future.

Thermal power CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) will promote zero carbon emissions across fossil energy power, providing guaranteed power and grid flexibility.

Data map: Workers sort out the coal on the freight train.

Photo by Hu Guolin

　　This year, Guangxi, Henan, Shandong, Inner Mongolia and other provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) not only mentioned the deployment of new energy projects in their provincial government work reports, but also focused on the deployment of clean and efficient use of coal.

The executive meeting of the State Council held in November last year proposed that another 200 billion yuan be set up to support the clean and efficient use of coal for special re-loans.

Coal companies have also transformed one after another. For example, China Shenhua, China Coal Energy, Meijin Energy, Shaanxi Black Cat and many other listed coal companies have increased their coal chemical business.

　　Third, curb the blind development of "two high" projects.

　　Last year, the central ecological and environmental protection inspector focused on the blind launch of the "two high" projects.

The development of energy-intensive and high-emission projects will still be curbed this year.

In January, the "14th Five-Year Plan" Comprehensive Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction issued by the State Council stated that the construction and operation of "two high" projects in violation of regulations are strictly prohibited, and the "two high" projects that do not meet the requirements are resolutely won.

In addition, many places including Henan, Zhejiang, Chongqing, Anhui, etc. have also made it clear that this year they will curb the blind development of the two high-level projects.

Data map: Solar photovoltaic power generation project.

(UAV photo) Photo by Liu Guoxing issued by China News Agency

　　In the view of Guo Lei, chief economist of GF Securities, dual carbon is a long-term systematic project that involves changes at many levels of the economy, including the reduction of production in high-carbon industries such as steel, coal, and some chemicals.

In addition, carbon neutrality also involves the acceleration of clean energy alternatives, the optimization of industrial processes such as emission reduction technologies and circular economy, and the construction of carbon taxes and carbon emissions trading systems.

　　Fourth, the carbon market will play a greater role.

　　In December last year, the first compliance cycle of the national carbon market came to a successful conclusion.

According to official data, as of December 31, 2021, the cumulative transaction volume of carbon emission allowances was 179 million tons, the cumulative transaction value was 7.661 billion yuan, the average transaction price was 42.85 yuan per ton, and the compliance completion rate was 99.5% (in terms of compliance volume).

　　Although the current carbon market trading volume is not very large, experts believe that the subsequent petrochemical, chemical, building materials, steel, non-ferrous metals, papermaking and other industries will be gradually included in the trading system, and the effect of forcing enterprises to reduce emissions will be even greater. Big.

　　Zhang Xiliang, director of the Institute of Energy and Environmental Economics of Tsinghua University and head of the technical expert group for the overall design of the national carbon emission trading system, believes that the carbon market will usher in new changes in the future. Free distribution to the introduction of the auction mechanism, and the introduction of third-party investment institutions to enter the carbon market for trading, etc.

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