Shaanxi issues detailed implementation rules for carbon emissions trading management
In order to strengthen the control of greenhouse gas emissions, improve the quality of carbon emission data, ensure quota payment and performance, and actively and steadily promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the "Implementation Rules for the Management of Carbon Emissions Trading in Shaanxi Province"(hereinafter referred to as the "Implementation Rules") will be officially implemented from December 1, 2024.
The "Implementation Rules" require that greenhouse gas emission units included in the list of key emission units in Shaanxi Province must meet two conditions: belonging to industries covered by the national carbon emissions trading market and annual greenhouse gas emissions reaching 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The ecological environment authorities of each city (district) must submit a list of key emission units within their jurisdiction for the next year before December 10 of each year. The provincial ecological and environmental authorities, together with relevant departments at the same level, formulate an annual list of key emission units in the province in accordance with the conditions for determining key emission units, report it to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and make it public to the public.
The "Implementation Rules" clarify that the list of key emission units in Shaanxi Province is subject to dynamic management. After verification, if greenhouse gas emissions have not reached 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for two consecutive years, they will no longer engage in relevant production and operation activities due to suspension of business, closure or other reasons, and therefore no longer emit greenhouse gases. Enterprises will be removed from the list of key emission units after confirming that they have completed corresponding obligations.
In accordance with regulations, Shaanxi Province implements free distribution of carbon emission quotas, and gradually implements a combination of free and paid distribution method in accordance with relevant national requirements. Key emission units and other entities that comply with relevant national rules may voluntarily cancel the carbon emission quotas they hold. Carbon emission quotas that are voluntarily cancelled will be reduced in an equal amount from the total amount of carbon emission quotas and will no longer be allocated, registered or traded. At the same time, key emission units can use nationally certified voluntary emission reductions (CCER) to offset the payment of carbon emission quotas in accordance with relevant national regulations. The nationally certified voluntary emission reductions used for offset shall not come from emission reduction projects included in the quota management of the national carbon emissions trading market.
The "Implementation Rules" require that the ecological environment authorities of various cities (districts) in Shaanxi Province should establish a law enforcement and supervision mechanism for carbon market work, improve regulatory and law enforcement capabilities, and carry out pre-, in-process and post-event supervision on important links such as monthly information-based certificate deposit, on-site verification, inspection and testing, and quota performance. Enterprises with abnormal emission data or fail to comply on schedule should increase the frequency and intensity of supervision and inspection.
According to regulations, key emission units in Shaanxi Province fail to calculate emissions according to regulations, omit major defects or falsify the annual emission report, and fail to prepare and submit samples according to regulations; If they fail to pay their carbon emission quotas in accordance with regulations, the competent ecological environment department shall order them to make corrections in accordance with the Interim Regulations on the Administration of Carbon Emissions Trading, and take measures such as confiscating illegal income, fines, reducing quotas for the next year, and ordering production suspension for rectification.
The "Implementation Rules" also clarify that citizens, legal persons and other organizations who discover violations of the provisions of these Implementation Rules have the right to report to the local ecological environment authorities at or above the municipal level divided into districts. The ecological environment authorities shall handle it in accordance with the law.
