(Source: China-Singapore Jingwei 2026-03-07)
The government work report submitted for review on the 5th announced a series of expected goals for China’s economy this year. It is worth noting that this year’s emission reduction target is set to “a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by about 3.8%”, while in 2025 the “energy consumption per unit of GDP reduction by more than 3%” is used.
Dong Xiu, Executive Dean of the China International Carbon Neutral Economic Research Institute, w88 casinoIn an exclusive interview with China-Singapore Jingwei, Cheng said that this change marks the official shift from the original dual control of energy consumption to dual control of carbon emissions in my country.
The so-called dual control of energy consumption means that two important indicators must be controlled every year-total energy consumption and energy consumption per unit of GDP; and dual control of carbon emissions means that these two important indicators are converted into total carbon emissions and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP.
“To put it bluntly, ‘energy control’ emphasizes the control of energy consumption, while ‘carbon control’ emphasizes the control of carbon dioxide emissions.”Dong XiuchengAdded.
The reason behind the adjustment of indicators is related to the disadvantages of simply emphasizing energy consumption.
Dong Xiuchengpointed out that traditional fossil energy and new energy actually produce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, and fossil energy runs through the entire life cycle. New energy produces almost no direct carbon emissions during the use stage, but it will still produce a certain amount of energy consumption and carbon emissions in manufacturing, power production, resource extraction and other links. Therefore, in the era of "energy control", in order to achieve energy consumption targets, various localities can control both fossil energy consumption and new energy consumption, which may lead to the suppression of new energy development. In the era of "carbon control", the goal is to reduce the total amount of carbon emissions. All regions will pay more attention to reducing the consumption of fossil energy while encouraging the increase in the use of new energy.
In addition,Dong XiuchengFurther pointed out that only part of traditional fossil energy is used for energy consumption and can also be used as raw materials. For example, oil and natural gas can be used as industrial raw materials and chemical raw materials. Simply "controllable" is not fair to fossil energy.
atDong XiuchengIt seems that the change in this indicator can also be understood in the context of the "double carbon" goal. In September 2020, China announced at the general debate of the 75th United Nations General Assembly that it would strive to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. To achieve this goal, we must focus our strategy on "carbon reduction." The core of our energy transformation is also carbon reduction. The main means of reducing carbon emissions is to adjust the structure, reduce the use of fossil energy, and increase the use of non-fossil energy.
According toDong XiuchengIntroduction, in fact, relevant national departments have already begun to promote this change. In July 2023, the second meeting of the Central Committee for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms reviewed and approved the "Opinions on Promoting the Gradual Shift from Dual Control of Energy Consumption to Dual Control of Carbon Emissions", proposing to gradually shift from dual control of energy consumption to dual control of carbon emissions.
Dong Xiuchengbelieves that changes in emission reduction standards will bring significant benefits to the development of new energy industries such as solar energy, wind energy, and hydrogen energy. It is expected that various regions will shift their focus to new energy development more prominently.
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