Efforts to restrict non-CO2 emissions enhanced

China is intensifying its efforts to curb non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases, as a key component of its 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions, a senior Ministry of Ecology and Environment official said on Wednesday.

Xia Yingxian, director of the ministry's department of climate change, noted that China's 2035 NDCs, announced in late September, mark the first time non-CO2 greenhouse gases have been explicitly included in the total emission control scope.

"In recent years, China has made steady progress in curbing non-CO2 emissions through a series of targeted policies," he said.

To tackle methane emissions, the ministry and other government departments jointly released an action plan for methane emission control at the end of 2023. Xia said that since then, key efforts made in the energy, agriculture and waste treatment sectors have gradually progressed.

Achievements include improving the utilization of coal mine gas, making notable progress in livestock manure recycling and enhancing the scientific control of methane emissions from rice paddies.

China has also been an active participant in global discussions on methane control, sharing its progress at events such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the 2024 Global Methane Forum.

In August, the ministry, along with the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, released the "Action Plan for Controlling Nitrous Oxide Emissions in the Industrial Sector". Xia said the plan is expected to guide future control efforts and accelerate China's transition toward greener and low carbon industries.

In addition, the ministry is leveraging the voluntary greenhouse gas emissions trading market to incentivize companies to reduce their emissions of non-CO2 gases. To facilitate this, it has released two methodologies covering the utilization of low-concentration coal mine methane and ventilation air methane.

Six additional methodologies related to non-CO2 gases, including the recycling of associated gas from offshore oil fields, have completed review and are expected to be issued by the end of this year.

As of Tuesday, the national voluntary greenhouse gas emissions trading market had recorded a total trading volume of 3.25 million metric tons and a turnover of 270 million yuan ($38 million). The ministry noted that this provides financial support for projects with good carbon reduction results but relatively high abatement costs.

"We will continue to leverage the market to encourage broad social participation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promote the conversion of ecological value into economic benefits," Xia said.

He added that China will further strengthen implementation of the control plans and expand cooperation across sectors to contribute to global climate action.