Our article: Promote the modernization of the climate governance system and governance capabilities through reform

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization in which man and nature coexist harmoniously. We must improve the institutional system of ecological civilization, coordinate the promotion of carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, actively respond to climate change, and accelerate the improvement of the institutional mechanism for the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

Addressing climate change involves all aspects of economy and society and is inseparable from the guidance, drive, support and guarantee of reform. The author suggests that we must closely follow the deployment requirements of the plenary session, comprehensively, accurately and completely understand and grasp the relevance and coupling of reform measures in the field of climate change, fully mobilize the initiative and creativity of departments, localities and enterprises, and implement breakthroughs at the point and in general. Coordinate and advance, accelerate the construction of climate governance systems and systems with Chinese characteristics, and enhance the ability and level of responding to climate change.

Closely follow the climate governance mechanism and focus on establishing a dual carbon emission control mechanism. With the deepening of the "dual carbon" strategy, my country must establish a dual control mechanism for the total amount and intensity of carbon emissions based on the existing dual control mechanism for energy consumption and carbon emission intensity control mechanism, and implement integrated collaborative management of dual controls. We can focus on the five-year plan and annual plan, balance and coordinate development and emission reduction, and scientifically set the total amount of carbon emissions. Taking into account factors such as the strategic positioning, development stage, emission base, emission reduction potential, and energy endowment of different regions, establish a differentiated decomposition and dynamic early warning mechanism for the total amount and intensity of carbon emissions for provincial and municipal administrative regions, and implement a certain flexibility. Carbon emission dual control assessment and assessment mechanism strengthens the binding role of the "dual control" goal in carbon reduction and high-quality development. Explore and establish a decomposition and evaluation mechanism for carbon emissions and carbon emission intensity in key areas such as industry, construction, and transportation to support industry carbon reduction. Implement a mandatory carbon emission constraint mechanism, establish a project carbon emission impact evaluation mechanism, promote the implementation of dual carbon emission control to enterprises and park units, and strengthen product carbon efficiency constraints.

Closely follow the climate governance system and focus on building work and data systems. Due to the uncertainty of future greenhouse gas emission reductions and the time lag of global warming effects, the global warming trend will continue in the next few decades or even a century. While actively and steadily promoting carbon peak and carbon neutrality, we also need to strengthen adaptation to climate change and change the situation of "emphasizing mitigation and neglecting adaptation". On the one hand, increase the supply of policies in key departments and key areas, and formulate adaptation policies in the fields of ecology, water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, health and other fields. On the other hand, we will promote the coordinated implementation of adaptation actions by the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin, and establish an adaptation work pattern in key areas such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle. Focusing on the regional, enterprise, and product levels, we will consolidate the data foundation for measurement, testing, and monitoring, promote the institutionalization, standardization and institutionalization of carbon emission statistical accounting, realize the normal compilation of carbon emission reports and greenhouse gas inventories, and improve data quality and timeliness. In accordance with the life cycle concept, focus on key industries to build a low-carbon supply chain, improve real-life data acquisition and information management capabilities, build a transparent, traceable and authoritative background database, improve carbon footprint accounting rules, implement carbon footprint level and threshold management, and expand carbon footprint application scenarios.

Closely follow the climate governance system and focus on improving the carbon-related market-oriented system. Market mechanisms such as carbon labeling and carbon trading are important manifestations of climate governance modernization and can fully mobilize the enthusiasm of market entities. Product carbon labeling is an important type of carbon labeling, which is conducive to opening up the production and consumption sides, promoting green consumption, green procurement and green trade, and enhancing the market competitiveness of low-carbon products. The construction of a product carbon labeling system must first formulate carbon emissions and carbon footprint accounting standards covering different products to enhance the scientificity and unity of accounting. At the same time, we will formulate a unified carbon labeling certification and labeling management system, improve the service quality and compliance of certification and accreditation bodies, and establish a product carbon labeling information inquiry and disclosure system. Mandatory carbon markets (carbon emissions trading) and voluntary carbon markets (voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction trading) are important parts of the carbon trading system. It is necessary to comprehensively deepen carbon market reform, improve carbon market laws and regulations, institutionalize key links, and build a multi-layered and unified carbon market system and method system. Improve carbon trading promotion and risk prevention and control mechanisms, expand market scale and energy levels, enrich trading entities and products, and enhance carbon price discovery functions. Use digital and intelligent means to strengthen the full-chain management of the quality of related data such as carbon emissions and emission reductions, form an efficient and strict data governance system and standard system, and form a regulatory environment in which carbon-related data dare not and cannot be falsified.

Author's unit: Sichuan Province Environmental Policy Research and Planning Institute (Sichuan Province Research Think Tank on Ecological Barrier Construction in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers)