On November 17, the National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation announced the publication of rules and guidelines to standardize the voluntary registration of nationwide greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives. The Rules comprise 6 chapters and 22 articles, including general provisions, account management, registration, information management, supervision and management, and supplementary provisions. The Guidelines regulate the terms and definitions, basic principles and requirements, and design and implementation processes for GHG emissions reduction projects. 

The Plan aims to launch carbon-peaking pilot projects in 100 cities and zones nationwide to solve bottlenecks constraining the country’s green and low-carbon development and explore paths toward carbon-peaking for different areas. The pilot scheme will initially cover 15 provincial regions, considering their total carbon-emission volume and growth trends, as well as local economic and social development status.

The Plan proposes methane emission control targets in key areas during the “14th Five-Year Plan” and “15th Five-Year Plan” periods. The Plan also outlines 8 key tasks, including establishing methane emission monitoring, accounting, reporting, and verification systems. Other key tasks involve improving controls in the energy and agricultural sectors, as well as in garbage and sewage treatment, promoting technological innovation and supervision, and accelerating the establishment of regulations, standards and policy systems, etc.

On November 17, President Xi delivered a speech with the theme “Staying True to APEC Founding Mission And Enhancing Unity and Cooperation To Jointly Promote High-Quality Growth in the Asia-Pacific” at the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Xi stressed staying committed to green development, emphasizing the need to deliver on the Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy, making “green” a defining feature of Asia-Pacific growth.

The 6th Beijing Responsibility Exhibition and the release of the “Blue Book of Corporate Social Responsibility 2023” was held in Beijing on November 16. The Blue Book, compiled by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), has been published for 15 consecutive years. The Blue Book analyzed the ESG performance and information disclosure of top state-owned, private, and foreign-funded enterprises and 17 key industries, providing insights to promote high-quality development in Chinese businesses.

The COP28 conference is taking place from 30 November to 12 December at Expo City Dubai. COP28 is of particular significance as it marks the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake since the Paris Agreement. Governments will take a decision on the GST at COP28, which can be leveraged to accelerate ambition in their next round of climate action plans due in 2025.

Some of the world’s biggest consumer companies are boasting a new environmental claim: net zero plastics, or “plastic neutral”. Similar to the more familiar “carbon neutral”, these companies haven’t wiped plastic from their manufacturing process but are relying on offsets instead. Critics are concerned that increased acceptance of offsetting, whether for plastics or for greenhouse gases, discourages companies from taking more substantial steps to reduce waste or cut emissions.

The report finds that the world is heading for a temperature rise far above the Paris Agreement goals unless countries deliver more than they have promised. Predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions still must fall by 28% for the Paris Agreement 2°C pathway and 42% for the 1.5°C pathway.

This Bulletin represents the latest analysis of observations from the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch Programme (GAW). It shows that globally averaged surface concentrations for CO2, CH4, and N2O reached new highs in 2022, standing at 150%, 264%, and 124%, respectively, of pre-industrial (before 1750) levels. It also provides insights on the change in radiative forcing by long-lived GHGs (LLGHGs) and contribution of individual gases to this increase.

A WWF-commissioned report by Dalberg reveals the hidden costs of plastic, estimating its true full lifetime cost is eight times higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Without global regulation, communities across low-income and middle-income countries are being exposed to the most harmful effects of plastic production and pollution. The negotiations of a global treaty to end plastic pollution which commenced in March 2022 present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the plastic pollution crisis once and for all.