On May 28, 2025, the report titled “Prospects for Low-Carbon Technologies in Industry Under China’s Carbon Neutrality Goals” was successfully launched at Tsinghua University’s Carbon Neutral Research Institute. This report was initiated by Tsinghua University’s Carbon Neutral Research Institute, supported by the Energy Foundation, and led by the Environmental Planning Institute of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Over twenty experts from more than ten organizations attended the release event to discuss key issues and future pathways for the development of low-carbon technologies in industries, in line with China’s carbon neutrality goals.
The event was jointly hosted by Fu Sha, Director of Strategic Planning at the Energy Foundation, and Professor Zhang Qiang, Deputy Director of the Department of Earth Sciences at Tsinghua University. Keynote speakers included He Kebin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Carbon Neutral Research Institute; Wang Jinnan, an academician and Honorary Director of the Environmental Planning Institute; and Zou Ji, CEO and President of the Energy Foundation China. They emphasized that advancing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is an intrinsic requirement for achieving high-quality development in China and is a significant national strategy for promoting harmony between humanity and nature. They noted that the industrial sector plays a critical role in the deep low-carbon transformation needed to meet these goals.
According to the speakers, technological innovation and advancements are the driving forces behind the transformation of various industrial sectors towards low carbon. Given this context, it is imperative to focus on the strategic needs for industrial carbon neutrality, systematically deploy cutting-edge low-carbon technologies, clarify key technical pathways, and establish a comprehensive solution framework to support the cultivation of new productive forces and promote high-quality industrial development.
During the report presentation, Yan Gang, Deputy Director of the Environmental Planning Institute, introduced the main content and key conclusions of the report. The report systematically outlines the critical technological pathways for achieving carbon neutrality in China’s industrial sector and constructs a technology map covering major industries and emission reduction aspects. It forecasts that under carbon neutrality scenarios, industrial carbon emissions in China could drop to 450 million tons by 2060, representing a reduction of approximately 95% from 2025 levels.
The report also highlights four common technologies—raw material substitution, waste recycling, electrification with clean power, and hydrogen replacement, along with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)—which together contribute nearly 80% of the industrial technology emission reduction potential. The timeline for technology evolution suggests that from 2025 to 2035, the large-scale application of low-carbon process technologies will occur, with energy efficiency improvements and raw material substitution driving significant reductions in industrial carbon emissions. From 2035 to 2050, disruptive process technologies will emerge, with rapid development in electrification and clean power technologies. The decline in the costs of hydrogen (green hydrogen) and improvements in technology maturity will facilitate the widespread application of hydrogen replacement technologies. Between 2050 and 2060, the deep application of carbon removal technologies will commence, with mature CCUS technologies expected to contribute to 24% of emission reductions by 2060.
Based on the research findings, the report proposes a series of policy recommendations, including the planning and deployment of major projects for key technologies related to industrial carbon neutrality, continuously enhancing the carbon market’s incentives for these technologies, accelerating breakthroughs and demonstrations in common technologies through dedicated scientific projects, and establishing a supportive fiscal policy framework conducive to the development of carbon neutrality technologies. These measures aim to accelerate the deployment of common technologies with clear industrialization paths and substantial emission reduction potentials, thus supporting the transition of China’s industrial sector towards a high-quality, sustainable green transformation.
In the roundtable discussion, participants included He Kebin, Wang Jinnan, Liu Bingjiang, former Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Liu Yang, Deputy Director of the Climate Change Department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Bai Rongchun, former Deputy Director of the National Energy Expert Committee, Li Junfeng, the first Director of the National Climate Change Strategy Research and International Cooperation Center, and several other experts from various sectors. This report was collaboratively prepared by 40 experts from 24 organizations, including the Metallurgical Industry Planning Institute and the China Academy of Building Materials Science, among others.
Throughout the report’s preparation, a series of technical forums and academic salons focused on “Industrial Technologies for Carbon Neutrality” were organized, establishing a platform for industry-academia-research collaboration on low-carbon technologies. The preparation team conducted field research on over 70 enterprises in sectors such as steel, cement, non-ferrous metals, petrochemicals, and coal chemicals, gaining insights into their experiences and technological needs for low-carbon transformation. Additionally, over twenty seasoned experts were consulted to gather valuable opinions, ensuring a broad consensus between industry and academia.
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