Energy mix and innovation keys to green transition

Editor's note: China plans to accelerate its green transition across the board and cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 17 percent during the 2026-30 period. People's Daily Overseas Edition spoke with Dong Zhanfeng, head of the Institute of Environmental Policy and Management at the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, and Yang Quanhong, a professor at the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Tianjin University, on environmental protection in China. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

The 17 percent target reflects both the pace required for China to achieve carbon peaking before 2030 and the steady progress made so far. Many energy-saving and carbon-reduction measures have already begun to deliver results, laying a solid foundation for further improvement.

However, as emissions decline, the potential for further reduction shrinks and the level of difficulty increases. Early gains were achieved largely through improvements in energy efficiency and the phasing out of outdated capacity. In the future, deeper cuts will depend more on adjustments to the energy mix and technological innovation, making the transition more complex.

The next stage of green development will focus on three areas. First, targets will become more binding. A dual control system of total carbon emissions and carbon intensity will be incorporated into mandatory assessments, replacing the earlier focus on controlling energy consumption.

Second, more coordinated efforts will be made to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, pursue green development and boost economic growth.

Third, policies will be more closely aligned with international rules. Measures such as carbon footprint management and the expansion of the carbon market will help enhance the global competitiveness of China's industries while demonstrating its commitment to addressing climate change.

At its core, the green transition is about emissions. The electricity generated from coal and renewable sources, for instance, have very different carbon footprints. The dual control of carbon emissions essentially shifts the focus from how much energy is consumed to how much carbon is emitted.

This shift will improve the precision of emissions control by directly linking energy use to carbon targets. It will help align energy structure, industry layout and investment decisions, while strengthening institutional guidance. In turn, this will encourage local governments and businesses to accelerate transformation and cultivate new drivers of green growth.

At the same time, it will advance carbon accounting, carbon footprint management and carbon market development in a coordinated way. It will also help Chinese industries respond to emerging carbon barriers while enhancing the country's role and influence in global climate governance.

China has already constructed many projects and is planning more environment-friendly infrastructure to advance its green development. This reflects a clear shift from isolated breakthroughs to a more systematic upgrade of the country's green transition.

Non-fossil energy is now entering a stage of large-scale and high-quality development. Continued expansion of wind, solar, nuclear and hydropower, alongside major clean energy bases, will drive growth across the entire industrial chain. Smart grids and energy storage will help to address the intermittency of renewables and support their wider integration.

Also, low-carbon technological innovation has become the central focus of industrial competition. Technologies such as hydrogen, green hydrogen-ammonia-alcohol and concentrated solar power are advancing rapidly to meet the deep decarbonization needs of energy-intensive sectors.

Meanwhile, policy and market mechanisms are working more closely together. Initiatives such as a national low-carbon transition fund will help lower the cost of transformation and guide capital toward green industries, while the development of green fuels and related sectors may reshape the landscape of global energy trade.

China's energy transition carries global significance. Its impact goes beyond domestic emissions reduction, influencing the cost, supply and adoption of green technologies worldwide. China's efforts can help accelerate technological maturity and cost reduction, making green solutions more accessible and affordable, especially for developing economies.