Energy structure: from coal‑dominant to non‑fossil fuel‑led
On 9 July 2026, the State Council officially released the 15th Five‑Year Carbon Peaking Action Plan.
As the final five‑year blueprint for meeting the 2030 peaking commitment, the Action Plan identifies the 2026–2030 period as both critical and challenging. It sets out systematic measures on energy transition, sectoral emission cuts, and institutional innovation to lay a solid foundation for both the peaking goal and long‑term carbon neutrality.
Liu Huiwen, a researcher at China First Financial Daily, said the Action Plan establishes a framework for the green transition, with “replacing” existing stock capacity and “expanding” new growth as its central thread.
The Action Plan’s general requirements call for steadily peaking coal and oil consumption, effectively capping further growth in fossil fuel use. It also sets two core targets: a 17% reduction in CO₂ per unit of GDP by 2030 from 2025 levels, and a 25% share for non‑fossil energy.
