Find out the "bottom line" of product carbon emissions and release the general standard for carbon footprint accounting

The state will gradually improve the carbon footprint management standard system and accelerate the establishment and formulation of carbon footprint accounting standards for basic energy, upstream raw materials and key foreign trade products with urgent needs in accordance with the principles of systematic advancement, urgent use first, and open collaboration.

my country's carbon footprint management standards cover a wide range of fields. In accordance with the principle of emergency use first, we will focus on electricity, fuel oil, steel, electrolytic aluminum, cement, fertilizer, hydrogen, lime, glass, ethylene, synthetic ammonia, calcium carbide, methanol, coal chemical industry, key products such as power batteries, photovoltaics, new energy vehicles, and electronic appliances, and organize relevant industry associations, enterprises, and scientific research units to formulate and publish industry standards or group standards for product carbon footprint calculation.

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 Product Carbon Footprint Accounting") 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). This standard fills 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.

The Department of Climate Change Response of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment stated on the evening of the 10th when interpreting the General Rules for Product Carbon Footprint Accounting Standards that under the guidance of the General Rules for Product Carbon Footprint Accounting Standards, accelerate the preparation of specific product carbon footprint accounting standards and data accounting, and find out the "bottom line" of product carbon emissions. It is an important basis for accelerating the construction of my country's product carbon footprint management system, which is conducive to exploring the energy conservation and carbon reduction potential of enterprises and upstream and downstream industrial chains, and helping to achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. It is conducive to helping enterprises cope with international green trade barriers and improve the low-carbon competitiveness of products and trade competitive advantages.

The establishment and improvement of the national standard for carbon footprint will help effectively play the role of the standard in standardizing and leading the industry. Photography/Zhang Ke

"The frequent emergence of international trade policies involving the carbon footprint of products has brought challenges to my country's product exports. It is urgent to find out the carbon footprint of my country's products through scientific methods." The Climate Change Response Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said in the above interpretation.

"Product carbon accounting involves upstream and downstream product production and relies on solid carbon accounting for industry enterprises and regional list foundations." Experts such as Ma Cuimei, an expert from the National Climate Strategy Center, believe that we should focus on raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products in key industries, and then gradually expand to products and service products in other industries. Study and formulate carbon emission accounting methods for key products, promote the introduction of relevant standards, and guide enterprises and third-party organizations to carry out product carbon emission accounting. On the basis of improving product carbon accounting, explore the establishment of a carbon labeling system to guide consumers to choose low-emission products and services, and force the entire industry chain to reduce emissions.

According to the Department of Climate Change Response of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the general rules and standards for product carbon footprint accounting mainly draw on the ISO14067 international standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and adopt methods consistent with internationally accepted life cycle assessment standards (GB/T24040 and GB/T24044)., it stipulates the research scope, principles and quantitative methods of product carbon footprint, laying a foundation for international exchange and mutual recognition of product carbon footprint accounting methods and data.

Compared with international standards, the General Rules for Product Carbon Footprint Accounting Standard has added a reference framework for preparing specific product carbon footprint standards, suggestions for data geographical boundary information, etc. In addition, the General Rules for Product Carbon Footprint Accounting Standards also stipulate the appraisal review, product carbon footprint statement and specific product carbon footprint standard framework.

It is learned from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment that in many key industries, basic carbon footprint databases for key products have been built. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has organized the construction of public service platforms such as carbon peak carbon neutrality and digital carbon management in key raw material industries, and built a basic database on the carbon footprint of key products in key industries such as petrochemicals and building materials. Taking product life cycle assessment such as carbon footprint as a necessary condition for the evaluation of green design products, as of August 2023, a total of 3724 green design products at the national level have been cultivated, including more than 500 petrochemical and chemical products.

In March this year, the Standards and Technology Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation revealed that it had begun to compile the "three new" national carbon footprint standards for electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products. The "Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of a Product Carbon Footprint Management System" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments proposes that by 2025, about 50 key product carbon footprint accounting rules and standards will be issued at the national level; by 2030, 200 will be issued at the national level. Carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for around key products.

The Department of Climate Change Response of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment stated that in the next step, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will work with relevant departments to systematically promote the implementation and application of the general principles for product carbon footprint accounting, and accelerate the promotion of basic energy in accordance with the principles of systematic promotion, urgent use first, and open collaboration., the establishment and formulation of carbon footprint accounting standards for upstream raw materials and key foreign trade products in urgent need, and gradually improve the carbon footprint management standard system.