China sets more ambitious climate targets in its updated NDC

China has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The country aims to have CO₂ emissions peak before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, to lower its CO₂ intensity (CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP) by over 65% from the 2005 level, to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25%, to increase the forest stock volume by 6 bcm from the 2005 level, and to bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1,200 GW by 2030. 

In 2015, China submitted its intended NDC. The country aimed to achieve the peaking of CO₂ emissions around 2030, to lower CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP by 60% to 65% from the 2005 level, to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20%, to increase the forest stock volume by around 4.5 bcm on the 2005 level, and to take adaptation actions to enhance mechanisms and capacities for effectively defending against climate change risks.

Coal (including lignite) still dominates the energy mix with 60% in 2020, but its share is decreasing rapidly (-11% points since 2010). It is followed by oil (19.5%), primary electricity, including hydro, wind, solar and nuclear (9%), natural gas (8%), and biomass (4%). The country's carbon intensity decreased by 18% over 2015-2020. At the end of 2020, China had nearly 282 GW of installed wind capacity, and over 253 GW of solar capacity.