NDRC Environmental Resources Department [2023] No. 1529
Provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, cities specifically designated in the state plan, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Development and Reform Commission, industry and information technology competent departments, market supervision bureaus (departments, commissions), housing and urban-rural development departments (commissions), transportation departments (bureaus, commissions):
In order to thoroughly implement the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Fully, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Concept and Doing a Good Job in Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality", and in accordance with the deployment requirements of the "Action Plan for Carbon Peak before 2030", accelerate the improvement of China's key product carbon footprint management level, promote the green and low-carbon transformation of related industries, actively guide green and low-carbon consumption, and help achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, the following opinions are proposed.
1、 Overall requirements
（1） Guiding ideology. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, deeply implementing Xi Jinping Economic Thought and Xi Jinping Ecological Civilization Thought, fully, accurately and comprehensively implementing the new development concept, accelerating the construction of a new development pattern, and focusing on promoting high-quality development. In accordance with the relevant deployment of the major strategic decisions of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on carbon peak and carbon neutrality, we will promote the establishment of a product carbon footprint management system that is in line with national conditions, improve the accounting method rules and standard system for key products, establish a product carbon footprint background database, promote the construction of product carbon labeling and certification system, expand and enrich application scenarios, and give full play to the promoting role of the product carbon footprint management system in the green and low-carbon transformation of production and lifestyle, providing support for achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
（2） Working principles
——System advancement, prioritize urgent needs. Focusing on products with urgent market demand, outstanding emission reduction contributions, and obvious supply chain driving effects, we actively promote the construction of a product carbon footprint management system in accordance with the principles of maturity, promotion, and continuous improvement, and steadily and orderly expand the coverage of products.
——Innovation driven, technology integration. Taking innovation as the key to improving the level of carbon footprint management, we will strengthen the original innovation, integrated innovation, digestion and absorption of relevant technical methods for carbon footprint accounting and database construction, and guide the cross integration of carbon footprint management with technologies such as big data, blockchain, and the Internet of Things.
——Government guidance, market leadership. Establish and improve regulations and management mechanisms related to product carbon footprint management, strengthen basic capacity building, build a fair and orderly market environment, actively guide enterprises to promote product carbon footprint management work on a voluntary basis, and support related industries to accelerate green and low-carbon transformation.
——I take the lead and open up cooperation. Facing the goal of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, based on the actual national conditions and development stages, we will scientifically formulate relevant regulations, policies, and standards, establish a product carbon footprint management system with me as the main body, actively participate in the revision of international carbon footprint standards and international measurement comparisons, fully absorb and learn from international beneficial experiences, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation related to product carbon footprint, and promote international mutual recognition.
（3） Main objectives
By 2025, around 50 key product carbon footprint accounting rules and standards will be introduced at the national level, a batch of key industry carbon footprint background databases will be initially established, the national product carbon labeling certification system will be basically established, and the application scenarios of carbon footprint accounting and labeling in production, consumption, trade, and finance will be significantly expanded. Several key product carbon footprint accounting rules, standards, and carbon labeling will achieve international mutual recognition.
By 2030, around 200 key product carbon footprint accounting rules and standards will be introduced at the national level, and a number of key industry carbon footprint background databases with wide coverage, high data quality, and strong international influence will be basically established. The national product carbon labeling certification system will be fully established, and carbon labeling will be widely recognized by enterprises and consumers. The carbon footprint accounting rules, standards, and carbon labeling of major products will be widely recognized internationally, and the product carbon footprint management system will provide strong guarantees for the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.
2、 Key tasks
（4） Develop rules and standards for calculating product carbon footprint. The State Administration for Market Regulation, in conjunction with the National Development and Reform Commission and other relevant departments, will accelerate the development of basic national standards for product carbon footprint accounting, clarify the boundaries, accounting methods, data quality requirements, and traceability requirements for product carbon footprint accounting. The National Development and Reform Commission, in consultation with relevant departments, has identified key products that will be given priority in formulating accounting rules and standards. The industry regulatory departments such as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall organize relevant industry associations, leading enterprises, research institutes, etc. to study and formulate carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for key products in accordance with the principle of group standards being tested first and gradually transformed into industry standards or national standards. If conditions are ripe, national standards or industry standards can be directly formulated. The industry regulatory authorities, together with development and reform, market supervision and other departments, shall issue a list of rules and standards to be adopted, providing unified and standardized rules and standards for enterprises and institutions.
（5） Strengthen the construction of the carbon footprint background database. On the basis of ensuring unified methods and accurate and reliable data, industry regulatory authorities and regions with conditions can establish relevant industry carbon footprint background databases according to work needs, providing public services for enterprises to carry out product carbon footprint accounting. Encourage relevant industry associations, enterprises, and research institutions to collect and organize industry related data resources in accordance with the law and regulations on the basis of indicating the data source, and publish a background database of product carbon footprint in segmented industry fields. Industry regulatory authorities should strengthen guidance for relevant industry associations, enterprises, and research institutions, standardize the construction of various databases, timely organize peer review, cross validation, and data traceability verification, and continuously improve data quality. On the premise of ensuring data security, we encourage international carbon footprint database suppliers to cooperate with China's carbon footprint database in accordance with market-oriented principles and update relevant background data truthfully.
（6） Establish a product carbon labeling certification system. On the basis of formulating rules and standards for product carbon footprint accounting and establishing relevant background databases, a unified and standardized product carbon labeling and certification system will be established at the national level. By clearly marking the quantitative information of product carbon footprint, enterprises will be guided to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. The National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport and other departments, have studied and formulated the management measures for product carbon labeling certification, clarifying the scope of application, labeling styles, certification processes, management requirements, etc., and orderly regulating and guiding various regions and levels to explore and carry out product carbon footprint management related work. Encourage enterprises to voluntarily carry out product carbon labeling certification in accordance with market-oriented principles, and guide them to label and use carbon labeling in products, packaging materials, advertisements, and other locations.
（7） Enrich the application scenarios of product carbon footprint. Fully leverage the role of carbon footprint management in promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of enterprises, take the level of product carbon footprint as an important indicator, promote enterprises to benchmark international and domestic advanced levels, identify weak links in production and circulation, support enterprises to carry out process transformation, strengthen energy conservation and carbon reduction management, and tap into the potential of energy conservation and carbon reduction. Encourage leading enterprises to establish product carbon footprint management systems based on industry development level and their own actual situation, drive upstream and downstream enterprises to strengthen carbon footprint management, and promote the overall green and low-carbon transformation of the supply chain. Timely incorporate carbon footprint management requirements into government procurement demand standards and increase procurement efforts for products with lower carbon footprints. Focusing on large consumer goods such as electronic products, household appliances, and automobiles, we will orderly promote the application of carbon labeling in the consumer goods field, guide shopping malls and e-commerce platforms to actively display product carbon labeling, and encourage consumers to purchase and use products with lower carbon footprints. Support banks and other financial institutions to use carbon footprint accounting results as an important basis for the adoption of green financial products.
（8） Promote international linkage and mutual recognition of carbon footprint. Strengthen research on international carbon footprint methodology, track management systems, certification rules, and implementation effectiveness related to carbon footprint of international organizations and major economies, and systematically transform relevant international standards into national and industry standards based on China's actual situation. Adhere to the principle of self centeredness, fully leverage the role of bilateral and multilateral dialogue mechanisms, strengthen communication and coordination with international stakeholders, actively participate in the formulation and revision of international carbon footprint standards and rules, and promote mutual recognition of carbon footprint accounting rules and certification results with major trading partners. Encourage industry associations, research institutions, enterprises, institutions, etc. to actively participate in international activities and academic exchanges related to carbon footprint, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with foreign parties in methodological research, technical specification development, professional talent cultivation, and other aspects.
3、 Guarantee measures
（9） Improve policy support. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration for Market Regulation and other departments have strengthened the research and development of carbon footprint accounting rules and standards, as well as the construction of background databases. Encourage social capital to invest in the construction of a commercial carbon footprint background database, and guide financial institutions to gradually establish a green and low-carbon level evaluation system for enterprises guided by product carbon footprint.
（10） Strengthen capacity building. The National Development and Reform Commission, in conjunction with relevant departments, has established an expert working group on product carbon footprint management to provide technical support for key tasks such as determining the annual list of key products, researching carbon footprint management mechanisms, and formulating carbon labeling and certification management measures. Industry regulatory authorities and regional organizations carry out training on carbon footprint management, promote and interpret policy points and management requirements, guide industry associations, backbone enterprises, universities, and social training institutions to play an active role, standardize and orderly carry out carbon footprint related vocational training, and improve the professional competence of practitioners. Support service institutions such as carbon footprint accounting, certification, management, and consulting to strengthen their own capacity building, and provide scientific, rigorous, systematic, and standardized professional services for industry enterprises.
（11） Improve data quality. The State Administration for Market Regulation guides relevant departments and units to strengthen the construction of the quality measurement guarantee system for carbon footprint data, and to enhance the research and application of carbon measurement technology. Industry regulatory authorities and enterprises prioritize the use of data with measurement traceability in carbon footprint accounting and background database construction, and conduct uncertainty analysis on accounting results and data. Encourage the use of 5G, big data, blockchain and other technologies in the construction of carbon footprint background database, give play to the role of industrial Internet identification analysis system, and improve the reliability and timeliness of data monitoring, collection, storage, accounting and verification. Support industry associations, research institutions, enterprises, and other organizations to collaborate on multi-level and multi-dimensional data analysis and measurement comparison, and improve the data quality control system. Explore the implementation of a carbon labeling certification peer review system and strengthen mutual supervision among certification bodies. Strengthen industry management, introduce credit punishment and exit mechanisms, explore the establishment of a "blacklist" system for certification agencies, and severely crack down on all kinds of fraudulent and overlabeled behaviors.
（12） Strengthen intellectual property protection. The China National Intellectual Property Administration is responsible for exploring and studying the intellectual property protection system in such fields as carbon footprint accounting methods and carbon footprint background database, and cultivating and developing mediation organizations, arbitration institutions, and notaries for intellectual property disputes. Encourage industry associations and chambers of commerce to establish self-discipline and information communication mechanisms for intellectual property protection. Improve the examination system for the transfer of intellectual property rights to foreign countries, and manage the transfer of carbon footprint related technologies involving national security in accordance with the law.
4、 Organize and implement
（13） Strengthen overall planning and coordination. The product carbon footprint management system has a wide coverage, involves multiple industries, and has a significant social impact. Relevant departments in various regions should attach great importance to it. The National Development and Reform Commission strengthens overall work coordination, conducts in-depth research on major issues, determines annual work plans, strengthens daily work scheduling, solidly promotes key tasks, and collaborates with relevant departments to establish and improve China's product carbon footprint management system.
（14） Clearly define the division of responsibilities. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the State Administration for Market Regulation and other departments are responsible for formulating and promoting carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for key products in relevant industries. The National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport and other departments, are responsible for the work related to product carbon labeling certification. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for tracking international carbon footprint trends and coordinating with international organizations and major economies according to their responsibilities.
（15） Encourage trial and error. The development and reform commissions of each region should work together with relevant parties to promote local carbon footprint management. The Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area should actively promote the pilot construction of product carbon footprint certification, accelerate the formation of beneficial experience and institutional achievements. Encourage regions with conditions to conduct research and standard development on carbon footprint accounting rules for products outside of the national accounting standards based on their own actual situation. Products with mature conditions can be included in the national product carbon footprint management system in a timely manner. For products that have already established carbon footprint accounting rules and standards in the country, regions will no longer introduce or promptly abolish relevant local rules and standards.
National Development and Reform Commission
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
the State Administration for Market Regulation
Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development
Ministry of Transport
November 13, 2023
