NDRC Clarifies This Year¡¯s Work Plan for Green Transition
2026-1-21
The State Council Information Office held a press conference on January 20. Wang Shancheng, Director-General of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), introduced the specific work arrangements for China¡¯s green transition and the achievement of the "dual carbon" goals.
Wang Shancheng stated that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, especially in the five years since the "dual carbon" goals were proposed, China¡¯s green transition has entered a "fast lane", with remarkable achievements attracting worldwide attention. China has built the world¡¯s largest renewable energy system, established the world¡¯s most complete new energy industry chain, achieved the fastest popularization of new energy vehicles globally, and ranked among the countries with the largest reductions in energy consumption intensity and carbon intensity around the world.
The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a decisive phase for achieving the carbon peak target. We still face many difficulties and challenges in this work, and it is imperative to make coordinated arrangements for green transition, economic development and energy security. As the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, 2026 will see the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) further strengthen its work measures and focus on the following four key areas:
First, accelerate energy transition. We will step up efforts to develop non-fossil energy, speed up the construction of a new-type power system, enhance the grid¡¯s regulation capacity, develop models such as direct green power supply, expand the scale of green power absorption and consumption, increase the share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption, and drive the newly added clean energy power generation to gradually meet the growing electricity demand of the whole society. We will also accelerate the transformation of coal-fired power from a basic guaranteed power source to a supporting and regulating one, and continuously improve the level of clean and efficient utilization of fossil energy.
Second, advance industrial upgrading. On one hand, we will do the "addition": vigorously develop green and low-carbon industries, promote energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation in key sectors and the clean replacement of coal, build zero-carbon parks and zero-carbon factories, and encourage the development of new industries and new business forms. On the other hand, we will do the "subtraction": strengthen standard constraints, accelerate the phase-out of backward and inefficient production capacity; give full play to the role of energy conservation review and carbon emission assessment in gatekeeping at the source, and resolutely curb the blind expansion of projects with high energy consumption and high emissions ("two-high" projects).
Third, strengthen comprehensive conservation. We will consistently adhere to the principle of conservation first, thoroughly implement the comprehensive conservation strategy, strengthen the whole-chain management and full-process conservation of all types of resources, vigorously develop the circular economy, advocate food, water and electricity conservation as well as household waste sorting, promote green and low-carbon products, and facilitate the formation of a green and low-carbon mode of production and living.
Fourth, conduct scientific assessment. We will fully implement the dual control of total carbon emissions and carbon intensity, establish and improve systems such as the comprehensive assessment for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, industry-specific carbon management and control, and product carbon footprint, refine incentive and restraint policies, give full play to the role of market mechanisms, and drive the whole society to form a synergy for implementation.
Wang Shancheng stated that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, especially in the five years since the "dual carbon" goals were proposed, China¡¯s green transition has entered a "fast lane", with remarkable achievements attracting worldwide attention. China has built the world¡¯s largest renewable energy system, established the world¡¯s most complete new energy industry chain, achieved the fastest popularization of new energy vehicles globally, and ranked among the countries with the largest reductions in energy consumption intensity and carbon intensity around the world.
The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a decisive phase for achieving the carbon peak target. We still face many difficulties and challenges in this work, and it is imperative to make coordinated arrangements for green transition, economic development and energy security. As the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, 2026 will see the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) further strengthen its work measures and focus on the following four key areas:
First, accelerate energy transition. We will step up efforts to develop non-fossil energy, speed up the construction of a new-type power system, enhance the grid¡¯s regulation capacity, develop models such as direct green power supply, expand the scale of green power absorption and consumption, increase the share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption, and drive the newly added clean energy power generation to gradually meet the growing electricity demand of the whole society. We will also accelerate the transformation of coal-fired power from a basic guaranteed power source to a supporting and regulating one, and continuously improve the level of clean and efficient utilization of fossil energy.
Second, advance industrial upgrading. On one hand, we will do the "addition": vigorously develop green and low-carbon industries, promote energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation in key sectors and the clean replacement of coal, build zero-carbon parks and zero-carbon factories, and encourage the development of new industries and new business forms. On the other hand, we will do the "subtraction": strengthen standard constraints, accelerate the phase-out of backward and inefficient production capacity; give full play to the role of energy conservation review and carbon emission assessment in gatekeeping at the source, and resolutely curb the blind expansion of projects with high energy consumption and high emissions ("two-high" projects).
Third, strengthen comprehensive conservation. We will consistently adhere to the principle of conservation first, thoroughly implement the comprehensive conservation strategy, strengthen the whole-chain management and full-process conservation of all types of resources, vigorously develop the circular economy, advocate food, water and electricity conservation as well as household waste sorting, promote green and low-carbon products, and facilitate the formation of a green and low-carbon mode of production and living.
Fourth, conduct scientific assessment. We will fully implement the dual control of total carbon emissions and carbon intensity, establish and improve systems such as the comprehensive assessment for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, industry-specific carbon management and control, and product carbon footprint, refine incentive and restraint policies, give full play to the role of market mechanisms, and drive the whole society to form a synergy for implementation.