SHENZHEN recently released a climate change action plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (from 2021 to 2025), aiming to take the country’s lead in helping achieve carbon peaking and neutrality goals.

The plan specifies major goals, key tasks and projects to step up the building of green and low-carbon recycling, as well as a circular development economic system to improve how the city can tackle the impacts of climate change.

By 2025, Shenzhen aims to achieve positive results in reducing carbon emissions in key fields and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP, with enhanced capabilities to adapt to climate change and improvement in governance system, according to the plan released by the Shenzhen Municipal Ecology Environment Bureau and Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

Shenzhen will use advanced international standards together with the city’s development conditions as reference in building a system that includes 15 indicators in four categories, specifically comprehensive targets, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and pilot projects.

In terms of comprehensive targets, Shenzhen will complete the tasks assigned by the country and Guangdong Province in cutting carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2025.

In terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation, the added value of green and low-carbon industries is expected to reach 200 billion yuan (US$27.5 billion) by 2025. At the same time, the share rate of green transportation will reach 81% and the forest stock will reach 4.47 million cubic meters.

In addition, by 2025, effective warning systems for disastrous weather will reach 60 minutes in advance. Water consumption per 10,000-yuan GDP will be reduced to under 6 cubic meters, while urban water supply reserve capacity will reach 90 days.

Shenzhen will also have 100 nearly net-zero carbon emission pilot zones by 2025.

(Wang Jingli)