China Newsweek has released a comprehensive report on zero-carbon factory development in China, offering an in-depth examination of the country's industrial decarbonization progress.
The report draws on extensive research across 50 enterprises, features 28 representative case studies, systematically reviews core policy frameworks, and incorporates insights from leading experts and scholars.
Zero-carbon factory development refers to a process by which factories continuously reduce carbon dioxide emissions within their premises and gradually move toward near-zero levels through emissions-cutting measures, such as technological innovation, structural adjustment and management optimization.
"Zero carbon is neither a government solo act nor a corporate KPI. It requires every single choice from each of us," said Wang Chenbo, editor-in-chief of China Newsweek.
He added that the magazine will continue to serve as a recorder, connector, and promoter along the marathon journey toward a low-carbon future.
"AI has great potential to enable carbon reduction by optimizing energy systems, industrial parameters, and supply chain emissions. It can complement carbon reduction actions, and together, they are worth pursuing in the future," said He Kebin, dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University.
He emphasized that addressing climate change and reducing carbon emissions should not be merely a reactive response.
He added, "Instead, we should recognize that a series of carbon-reduction actions is driving the world economy into a new landscape. Taking the energy transition as an example, whoever can pioneer the establishment of large-scale technology systems for new energy will seize the early advantage in the next round of economic development."
Liu Yang, an official from the department of climate change response at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, emphasized that "green and low-carbon development is not only an internal imperative for China's sustainable growth but also a crucial part of our commitment to global climate governance and the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind".
By the end of 2025, non-fossil energy accounted for 21.7 percent of China's total energy consumption, and the nation had established the world's largest carbon emissions trading market by coverage of greenhouse gas emissions.
The report demonstrates that these policy measures are intended to make low-carbon options more accessible and affordable to the public, fostering a societal transformation that encompasses both industrial production methods and individual lifestyles.
