Shanghai (ZXZC)- On June 4th, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, along with 14 other departments, jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan").

The Plan outlines that by 2027, an initial carbon footprint management system will be established. By 2030, this system will be more refined and applicable in a broader range of scenarios.

Photo credit: China's  Ministry of Ecology and Environment

At a routine press conference held by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on May 29th, spokesperson Pei Xiaofei explained that a carbon footprint typically refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions and removals, expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents, of a specific entity. These entities can include products, individuals, households, institutions, or enterprises.

Pei Xiaofei emphasized that the more carbon-containing resources such as oil and coal are consumed, the greater the carbon dioxide emissions, leading to a larger carbon footprint. Conversely, reducing the consumption of these resources will decrease carbon dioxide emissions, thus reducing the carbon footprint. Therefore, cutting down on the use of carbon-containing resources is a key measure to lower carbon emissions and reduce the carbon footprint.

The product carbon footprint, the most widely applied concept, refers to the total carbon emissions produced throughout a product's lifecycle—from raw material production, transportation, and distribution to usage and disposal. It serves as an important indicator of the green and low-carbon level of production enterprises and products.

Effective carbon footprint management is crucial to achieving the "dual carbon" goals. Pei Xiaofei mentioned several key considerations and arrangements in formulating the Plan:

1. Establishing and improving the carbon footprint management system: This involves foundational work such as standards, factors, and institutional rules. It includes the issuance of general standards for product carbon footprint accounting and specific rules for key products, as well as developing a comprehensive database of product carbon footprint factors and systems for labeling, certification, graded management, and information disclosure.

2. Creating a multi-party participatory framework: This focuses on policy coordination, increasing financial support, expanding the application scenarios for product carbon footprints, encouraging local pilot projects and policy innovation, and promoting early adoption by key industries and enterprises to foster a collaborative effort in promoting product carbon footprints.

3. Promoting international mutual trust in product carbon footprint rules: This involves monitoring and assessing international carbon-related trade policies and product carbon footprint rules, promoting international alignment of these rules, and engaging with Belt and Road Initiative countries for mutual recognition and exchange of product carbon footprint standards, thereby actively participating in the formulation of international standards and rules and strengthening international cooperation.

4. Enhancing product carbon footprint capacity building: This includes strengthening capabilities in product carbon footprint accounting, standardizing professional services, developing specialized talent and institutions, and improving data quality, data security management, and intellectual property protection.