Facing China's Coal Future - IEA

Facing China’s Coal Future: Prospects and Challenges for CCS © OECD/IEA 2011
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Climate Change
China's Policies and
Actions for Addressing
Climate Change (2008)
Guide for CCS Science and
Technology Development
promote CCS research, development and demonstration. This was listed as one of the
key tasks of GHG mitigation technology development by advancing capacity building,
and developing a CCS technology roadmap and programmmes for demonstration of CO 2
utilisation and storage.
On 29 October 2008, the State Council Information Office published a White Paper
entitled China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change. It listed “Research
of CCS technology" as one of China’s policies and actions to mitigate climate change
and indicated that China will advance the use of cleaner coal and develop efficient and
clean power-generating technology, such as large-scale combined cycle units and polygeneration,
to promote technology for carbon dioxide sequestration.
An initiative developed by MOST outlines CCS R&D goals in 2020 and 2030, identifying
major tasks for capture, storage, transportation and utilisation technology development
and determines near-term priority projects under national science and technology
programmes.
China’s 12th Five-Year Plan In March 2011, China’s 12 th Five-Year Plan (FYP) was released establishing CO 2
emissions reduction targets and further supports the development of advanced fossil fuel
and low carbon technologies and RD&D as a means to reduce CO 2 emissions.
China’s Policies and
Actions for Addressing
Climate Change (2011)
On November 2011, the State Council Information Office published an updated White
Paper on China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change in advance of
COP17. The paper emphasises key climate actions of the 12th FYP and guidance on the
National Plan to Address Climate Change (2011-2020). The paper highlights the
importance China places on expanding key cooperation and R&D initiatives including
CCS, and development of low carbon technology roadmaps. It also details 12th FYP
commitments to emissions trading markets and low carbon pilot projects.
Source: PRC Information Office of the State Council and Chinese government publications.
China’s first CCS policy efforts began with a series of central government policies led by the
National Development and Reform Commission, China’s leading policy‐making institution along
with MOST. These policies focus on supporting CCS R&D within national science and technology
programmes. China’s Medium and Long‐term National Plan for Science and Technology
Development (2006‐20) noted that CCS was an important frontier technology. In 2007, China
issued its National Climate Change Programme, which aims to strengthen the development and
dissemination of advanced technologies. A large portion of this programme focuses on
developing coal gasification and systems including CCUS technologies (NDRC, 2007).
As mentioned earlier, in 2007, MOST issued China’s Scientific and Technological Actions on
Climate Change (MOST et al., 2007), an initiative developed in conjunction with 13 of the many
government institutions involved in energy policy and administration (Figure 7). Under this
initiative, projects in China of over USD 100 million must go through project approvals. In the
case of storage projects, requirements must be approved by the National Development and
Reform Comission, the National Energy Administration and the Ministry of Land Resources.
In line with broad policy priorities established in the five‐year plan and related energy planning,
further development of CCS will require legislative action at top‐level bodies, including the State
Council, the National People’s Congress and ministries with jurisdiction across several industrial
sectors and areas. Provincial, local and municipal bodies will also be essential to specific projectapproval
processes, as will engaging local stakeholders throughout the planning, feasibility and
approval stages, to avoid projects being derailed late in the process.
Municipal and local authorities in China have led significant efforts in developing low‐carbon and
clean‐energy projects within their jurisdictions. Given the complexities of industry sectors and
geological and environmental considerations, engagement at the local level will be important for
CCS project development in China and globally.