China Adopts New Law to Accelerate Carbon Neutrality by 2060

China has ratified an ambitious legislation aimed at promoting carbon neutrality and framing sustainable energy development in response to growing climate challenges.

Share:

China, the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases, has adopted an innovative energy law to support its climate objectives. This law aims to frame the transition towards a greener economy, with a carbon neutrality target set for 2060. This initiative, widely reported by state media, reflects Beijing’s commitment to addressing global warming.

Chinese authorities have defined this law as a tool to achieve the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by the end of the decade, followed by a net reduction to zero by 2060. According to reports from Xinhua, the state news agency, this legislation encourages high-quality energy development and ensures energy security, while meeting the requirements of a low-carbon economy.

A Turnaround Ahead of COP29

This new law comes just days before the start of COP29, the UN climate summit, scheduled in Baku. The legislation strengthens China’s position as a central player in international climate negotiations and aligns with the Paris Agreement, which calls for keeping global warming below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C.

The year 2024, marked by record heat, underscores the urgency of these actions. According to Copernicus, the climate monitoring service of the European Union, the current year is on track to become the hottest on record. This finding calls for intensified efforts by states, an imperative that China appears to have integrated with this new legislation.

Major Energy Challenges

Beijing, which already has the largest installed capacity in renewable energy, continues to diversify its energy resources. The country produces nearly twice as much wind and solar energy as all other nations combined, confirming its role as a global leader in clean energy. The recently adopted law addresses energy planning and utilization aspects to secure the transition to sustainable energy and ensure energy independence.

Extreme Weather Conditions: A Catalyst

China experienced extreme climatic episodes this summer, including heatwaves in the north and flooding in certain central and southern provinces. These recurring climate events underline the importance of the ongoing energy transformation. Scientists estimate that climate change will intensify these phenomena, a point that the Chinese government incorporates into its energy policies.

The new measures adopted in this law aim not only to reduce emissions but also to strengthen infrastructure to withstand the impacts of a changing climate. The text of the law, although detailed on major guidelines, has not yet specified concrete implementation modalities, leaving room for possible adaptation based on scientific and technological developments.

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
French greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a global slowdown in reductions forecast for the full year, according to Citepa, an independent organisation responsible for national monitoring.
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.