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2026
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06
National Development and Reform Commission: Harnessing the Potential and Expanding Space for Steady Growth Through Green Transformation
At the National Development and Reform Commission’s June press conference held on June 18, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and spokesperson for the Commission, outlined how to further advance energy conservation and carbon reduction during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, while striking a balance between the dual control of carbon emissions and economic development.
Li Chao stated: “The 15th Five-Year Plan period will be the critical phase for achieving the carbon peak target and securing a decisive victory. By conducting comprehensive assessments and evaluations of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in a scientific and orderly manner, and by advancing energy conservation and carbon reduction efforts at a higher standard and with greater quality, we aim to further leverage the strategic guiding role of these goals, establish a clear orientation toward supporting the development of non‑fossil energy and appropriately managing fossil energy consumption, and encourage all sectors to unlock greater potential and expand broader development space in the green transition, thereby contributing to stable growth and expanded investment.”
Li Chao stated that for energy-intensive yet technologically advanced projects, efforts will be coordinated on both the existing‑stock and new‑project fronts. On the stock side, focusing on nine key sectors—steel, electrolytic aluminum, cement, flat glass, oil refining, ethylene, synthetic ammonia, methanol, and coal‑fired power—the government will launch a three‑year campaign to carry out energy‑saving and carbon‑reduction upgrades. On the incremental side, new projects will be encouraged to optimize their energy mix, with active promotion of innovative models such as green direct supply, thereby increasing the share of non‑fossil fuels and lowering overall carbon emissions. In particular, projects that are technologically advanced and deliver high value‑added outcomes will receive strong support; the greater the use of non‑fossil energy in such cases, the lower the associated carbon‑emission pressure. The National Development and Reform Commission will urge local authorities to ramp up investment in zero‑carbon industrial parks, zero‑carbon transport corridors, and other related areas, accelerate the deployment of new clean‑energy capacity to meet all additional electricity demand across society, and continuously foster new drivers of green and low‑carbon development.
(Source: China Chemical News, June 23, 2026)