Shanghai, China's largest city and financial hub, has set goals to achieve a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. The city is leading the way in achieving dual carbon goals by implementing various policies and action plans.

Progress

Shanghai has established a carbon trading market.

It has achieved a cumulative reduction of over 50% in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP since 2010.

The energy consumption per unit of GDP and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in Shanghai is among the lowest in the country.

Policies

To realize its carbon goals, Shanghai formulated a "1+1+N" policy framework and carried out 10 action plans.

"1+1+N" policy framework

1+1 refers to two documents published in July 2022 by the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC and the municipal government.

1: Opinions on the Implementation of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality in Shanghai(《上海市碳达峰碳中和实施意见》)

1: Action Plan for the Implementation of Carbon Peak in Shanghai(《上海市碳达峰实施方案》)

N: Action plans are in place for key regions and sectors including energy, industry, construction, and transport to achieve carbon peak, as well as measures like science and technology support and green financing.

Major goals

By 2025

The plan aims for energy consumption per unit of GDP to drop by 14% compared to the 2020 level.

The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption strives to reach 20%.

The forest coverage rate aims at a goal above 19.5%.

Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP aim to be within national targets.

Achieving carbon peak by 2030

The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption in Shanghai strives to reach 25%.

The forest coverage rate in Shanghai strives to reach 21%.

The carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in Shanghai aim to drop by 70% compared to the 2005 level.

Realizing carbon neutrality before 2060

The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption in Shanghai aims to exceed 80%.

Economic and social development strives to achieve comprehensive decarbonization.

10 action plans

1. Green transition in energy mix

Non-fossil energy

- Comprehensively implement the "photovoltaic+" project

- Accelerate the development of offshore wind power in Fengxian, Nanhui, and Jinshan districts

- Actively explore deep-sea wind power

By 2025

- The installed capacity of photovoltaic power will reach 4 million kilowatts

- The installed capacity of wind power will reach 2.6 million kilowatts

Coal consumption

- Reasonably control coal use in power generation

- Explore the application of carbon dioxide capture and utilization technologies in coal-fired power plants

- Expedite the development of smart grids and continuously enhance the grid's ability to integrate renewable energy

2. Energy conservation and carbon reduction

- Encourage key energy-consuming enterprises to become "Leaders in Energy Efficiency"

- Achieve an annual energy conservation of 1% in the industrial sector from 2022 to 2025

3. Carbon peaking in industrial sectors

Promote green and low-carbon transformation of industries, with a focus on 10 key subsectors such as cutting-edge technologies and high-end equipment.

By 2025, the scale of the green and low-carbon industry is expected to surpass 500 billion yuan ($70 billion).

Drive the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry, with its scale expected to exceed 100 billion yuan ($14 billion) by 2025.

Propel carbon peaking in the steel and petrochemical industries and reduce comprehensive energy consumption per ton of steel.

Promote the construction of an industrial sub-park dedicated to the production of key new materials, such as those for carbon dioxide utilization, for carbon neutrality within the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

4. Carbon peaking in urban-rural construction sectors

Raise the green and low-carbon threshold for new buildings and increase the promotion of buildings with ultra-low energy consumption.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, the area of buildings with ultra-low energy consumption aims to reach no less than 8 million square meters.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) periods, over 80 million square meters of existing buildings plan to be renovated for energy-saving purposes.

Promote the use of renewable energy in buildings, with at least one type of renewable energy used in new buildings.

Promote the installation of photovoltaics in existing buildings. By 2025, achieve a photovoltaic coverage rate of over 50% of the roofs of public institutions and industrial buildings. By 2030, achieve comprehensive installation where applicable.

5. Green transport

Accelerate the construction of intra-regional river transport infrastructure in the Yangtze River Delta.

By 2025, the proportion of container transshipments in regional ports will increase from the current 49.6% to 52%, and the volume of containers transported through sea-rail combined transport will double.

The operational length of rail transportation in Shanghai is expected to reach 960 kilometers by 2025.

By 2025, the proportion of green transportation in the city proper is expected to increase to 75%.

By 2025, use new energy vehicles for all new or replacement vehicles for public buses and taxis. The total number of fuel-cell electric vehicles is expected to exceed 10,000 and fully electric vehicles are expected to account for over 50% of new personal vehicle purchases.

6. Circular economy

Strive to achieve a near-zero landfill of solid waste.

By 2025, maintain a comprehensive utilization rate of industrial solid waste above 98%, leading key parks to achieve the goal of "zero waste leaving the park".

Promote relevant districts to allocate 1% of industrial land to support the development of the circular economy

Release a white list of resource recycling companies in batches.

7. Innovation in green technology

By 2025, complete restructuring or upgrading of 10 key labs related to carbon neutrality, as well as 5 innovation centers for green technologies.

8. Carbon sink

Implement the Thousand Parks Plan to increase the number of parks in the city to more than 1,000 by 2025.

Accelerate the building of key ecological corridors in eight areas, namely the Huangpu River-Dazhi River area, forest areas surrounding five "new cities" in the suburbs, the coastal area of Jinshan district, and the forest area surrounding Chongming Island.

Increase the area of forest by 50,000 mu (3,333 hectares), bringing the forest coverage rate to more than 19.5% by 2025.

9. Public participation

Host Shanghai Carbon Neutrality Expo.

Encourage and support key industries such as steel and energy to develop and implement carbon peak and neutrality plans.

10. Regional actions

Promote the creation of a group of distinctive carbon peaking and carbon neutrality pilot examples in key areas such as Lin-gang Special Area, the demonstration zone for integrated ecological and green development in the Yangtze River Delta region n, Hongqiao international opening-up hub, and five "new cities" in the suburbs.

Advance carbon peak and carbon neutrality pilot demonstration in the world-class ecological island of Chongming.

Support the China Baowu Steel Group's Baoshan base in conducting a carbon peak and carbon neutrality pilot demonstration.

Source: sww.sh.gov.cn