The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has issued a notice regarding the preparations for the national carbon emissions trading market in 2025. Released on April 15, the document specifies that by April 20, 2025, provincial ecological environment authorities must allocate carbon emission quotas for the year 2024 to key emission units in the power generation sector. However, there will be no pre-allocation of carbon emission quotas for the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries for the year 2024.
Beginning in July 2025, within 40 natural days after the end of each month, provincial ecological environment authorities will require key emission units in the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries to conduct monthly information verification of their carbon emission statistical data through a management platform, along with technical reviews of the verified data. By October 31, 2025, these authorities are also expected to complete the supplementary reporting of carbon emission statistical data for January to June of that year.
The notice outlines several key requirements for managing the carbon emissions trading market:
- Strengthening the Management of Key Emission Units: The list of key emission units will be developed annually by industry. Units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting sectors with direct annual emissions reaching 26,000 tons of CO2 equivalent must be included in this list. Specific requirements for developing this list can be found in Attachment 1. Provincial authorities must establish their lists of key emission units for 2024, 2025, and 2026, which will be included in the national carbon emissions trading market management.
- Public Disclosure of the List: By May 10, 2025, provincial ecological environment authorities must publish the lists of key emission units in the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting sectors for 2024 and 2025 through the national carbon market management platform and their official websites.
- Account Opening: By May 15, 2025, provincial authorities will facilitate the opening of accounts on the management platform for newly included key emission units, activating various management functions related to carbon emissions.
- Enhancing Carbon Emission Data Quality Management: Provincial authorities will organize efforts to manage the quality of greenhouse gas emission data from key emission units in the specified industries, following the technical specifications outlined by the Ministry. They will also establish data quality control plans by June 30, 2025.
- Monthly Information Verification: From July 2025 onward, provincial authorities will conduct monthly verification of carbon emission data for the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting sectors through the management platform.
- Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting: By June 30, 2025, provincial authorities will ensure the submission of 2024 greenhouse gas emission reports from key emission units in the relevant industries.
- Technical Review of Emission Reports: Provincial authorities will complete technical reviews of greenhouse gas emission reports for key emission units in the power generation sector by June 30, 2025, and by August 31, 2025, for those in the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting sectors.
- Other Data Quality Management Requirements: For independent steel production, processing companies, and non-silicate cement clinker producers with direct annual emissions reaching 26,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, they must follow the specified technical guidelines for greenhouse gas reporting.
- Evaluating Verification Technical Service Providers: By December 31, 2025, provincial authorities will assess the quality, compliance, and timeliness of the work performed by verification technical service providers for the year 2024.
- Carbon Emission Quota Management: By April 20, 2025, provincial authorities will pre-allocate carbon emission quotas for the power generation sector. They will also determine the quotas based on verification results by July 31, 2025, and ensure timely compliance by December 31, 2025.
To ensure effective execution of these tasks, the Ministry emphasizes the importance of enhancing organizational leadership, capacity building, and supervision. Provincial authorities are encouraged to address challenges related to complex processes and data management capabilities while providing necessary support and training to key emission units.
This notice is crucial for the orderly and effective operation of the national carbon emissions trading market and aims to ensure that all stakeholders comply with the outlined requirements.
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