China's national standard GB/T 24067-2024 "Requirements and Guidelines for Quantifying Carbon Footprint of Greenhouse Gas Products" was released

GB/T 24067-2024 "Requirements and Guidelines for Quantifying Carbon Footprint of Greenhouse Gas Products"(hereinafter referred to as the "General Rules and Standards for Accounting of Product Carbon Footprint") proposed and guided by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment was recently approved and released by the State Administration of Market Regulation (National Standards Committee).

The formulation and release of general standards for product carbon footprint accounting is to implement the "Implementation Plan on Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System" and the "Action Plan on Further Strengthening the Construction of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutralization Standard Measurement System (2024-2025)" by 15 ministries and commissions including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The important measures deployed have filled the gap in the general standard for carbon footprint accounting of domestic products and will provide guidance for all parties to study and formulate specific product carbon footprint accounting standards. Under the guidance of the General Rules for Product Carbon Footprint Accounting Standards, accelerating the preparation of carbon footprint accounting standards and data accounting for specific products and finding out the "bottom line" of product carbon emissions is an important basis for accelerating the construction of my country's product carbon footprint management system, which is conducive to exploring enterprises and The energy conservation and carbon reduction potential of upstream and downstream industrial chains will help achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, help enterprises cope with international green trade barriers, and improve product low-carbon competitiveness and trade competitive advantages.

The general principles for product carbon footprint accounting mainly draw on the ISO 14067 international standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and adopt a method consistent with internationally accepted life cycle assessment standards (GB/T 24040 and GB/T 24044) to define the product carbon footprint. Research scope, principles and quantitative methods, etc., lay a foundation for international exchange and mutual recognition of product carbon footprint accounting methods and data. Compared with international standards, this standard adds a reference framework for compiling carbon footprint standards for specific products, suggestions for data geographical boundary information, etc., which is richer in content and more operational. In addition, this standard also stipulates the identification review, product carbon footprint statement and specific product carbon footprint standard framework, providing sufficient guidance and guarantee for the implementation and application of this standard.

In the next step, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will work with relevant departments to systematically promote the implementation and application of this standard, and accelerate the promotion of the carbon footprint of basic energy, upstream raw materials and key foreign trade products in urgent needs in accordance with the principles of systematic promotion, urgent use first, and open collaboration. The establishment and formulation process of accounting standards, gradually improve the carbon footprint management standard system, and provide standardization work support to better support the green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and society, high-quality development and the construction of a beautiful China.