In 2020, China deepened its climate commitments by pledging its “dual carbon” goals: for carbon emissions to peak by 2030 and for the country to be carbon neutral by 2060. China then launched its long-awaited national emission trading scheme (ETS) in July 2021.
This launch is a concrete move to reach its climate goals, but what does this mean for businesses in China?
The launch of China’s ETS
With 28 percent of global carbon emissions coming from the nation in 2018, China is the world’s largest carbon emitter. Since 2010, China has been saying it would introduce an ETS to help regulate these emissions, but over the next several years, the launch of this ETS had been repeatedly delayed due to the challenge of collecting reliable emissions data and a government reshuffle in 2018.
The announcement of both carbon goals in 2020 gave new meaning to the national ETS. China’s leadership has high expectations for the trading system, hoping it can help the nation accelerate its energy transition at a lower cost on the way to achieving these goals.
Finally, the ETS made its debut on July 16, 2021, with 4.1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) quotas worth 210 million yuan ($32 million) changing hands. On its first day of trade, the price closed at 51.23 yuan ($7.92) per ton of CO2.
How China’s ETS works
An ETS is a way to price carbon. CO2-emitting sites (e.g. factories or power plants) are given the right to release a certain amount of carbon. This is done in the form of permits that can be traded. Organizations must then submit permits equal to their actual emissions at the end of each cycle.
Unlike the European Union’s cap-and-trade system, the first cycle of China’s ETS distributes free permits based on factors such as the current output of each site and industry benchmarks. However, organizations face penalties if they go over their allotted cap, encouraging more efficient operations as a result.
Even though China’s ETS only includes the power sector in its initial phase this year, it is already the world’s largest ETS, covering 12 percent of global CO2 emissions.
What China’s climate goals mean
President Xi Jinping placing carbon emissions on the national agenda signals that China takes its climate goals seriously. Recent media commentary has put carbon neutrality in the Chinese public conscience and has been successful in raising public and corporate awareness. Both the announcement of China’s “dual carbon” goals and the launch of the national ETS send a strong message on China’s commitment to sustainability which will eventually be fulfilled by businesses and citizens in China.
Challenges for businesses in China
So far, companies operating in China may have gotten away with choosing not to take action on sustainability strategy as, up until now, there was less consumer and investor demand for it compared to the West. Many businesses did not see how ESG strategy adds to the bottom line in the short term.
But the tides have turned on the ground, and businesses operating in China have received the message that sustainability strategy and risk management is a more immediate consideration.
The challenge is that, compared to some other markets, things can change very quickly in China’s business landscape due to regulation, for instance, changes to renewables subsidies in May 2018.
The solution: reliable sustainability data
The best way for businesses to be prepared for a rapidly evolving national climate strategy is to ensure it has comprehensive and accurate data. One instance is to have a sustainability data management software for enterprises that collects climate-relevant information directly from assets. Creating a repository of verifiable, auditable data means that businesses can not only easily calculate their carbon footprint and improve sustainability reporting to stakeholders.
A major opportunity for business in China
Like many other businesses, we see major opportunities in China. Not only is its market size and market value vast, but its commitment to carbon neutrality can make a huge impact on the global fight against climate change.
It is inevitable that over time, all businesses operating in China will need to be part of the national solution. Data is the key–it can provide certainty in an uncertain business environment. The right set of technology can help businesses get a headstart and competitive edge.
Kelvin Yuen is Head of North Asia and Chief Finance Officer at Allinfra, bringing his 20+ years of finance experience and expertise to promote sustainability through technological and financial innovation.
Prior to Allinfra, Kelvin held various senior roles during his 12-year tenure at Macquarie Capital, including heading renewables principal investments and equity capital markets in Greater China. Prior to Macquarie, Kelvin was a senior business analyst at Singapore Power’s then subsidiary SP AusNet. Kelvin is an Australian Chartered Accountant having previously worked at Deloitte and BDO.
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