Ministry of Ecology and Environment: Preparing for the 2026 National Carbon Emissions Trading Market Related Work

To the Departments (Bureaus) of Ecology and Environment of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, and the Bureau of Ecology and Environment of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

In order to coordinate and effectively manage the national carbon emission trading market in 2026, ensure its healthy, stable, and orderly operation, and in accordance with the "Opinions of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council on Promoting Green and Low-Carbon Transformation and Strengthening the Construction of the National Carbon Market," the "Interim Regulations on the Management of Carbon Emission Trading," and the "Measures for the Management of Carbon Emission Trading (Trial)," the following requirements are hereby notified regarding the formulation of the list of key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries, data quality management, quota allocation and settlement, as well as the management of greenhouse gas emissions for enterprises in other key industries.

I. Strengthen the Management of the List of Key Emission Units

(1) Formulation of the List

Provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall formulate the list of key emission units for the year 2027 within their respective administrative regions. Units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries with annual direct emissions reaching 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent shall be included in the management of the national carbon emission trading market. Specific conditions for the formulation of the list are provided in Appendix 1.

(2) Publication of the List

By October 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall publicly announce the list of key emission units for the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries for the year 2027 through the National Carbon Market Management Platform (hereinafter referred to as the Management Platform, accessible at https://www.cets.org.cn) and the official websites of the provincial-level departments of ecology and environment (the format for public disclosure of the list is provided in Appendix 2). Relevant rights and obligations shall be promptly communicated to the key emission units.

II. Strengthen Data Quality Management for Key Emission Units

Provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize and carry out data quality management for greenhouse gas emissions in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries in accordance with the accounting, reporting, and verification technical specifications formulated by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (a list is provided in Appendix 3).

(1) Formulation of Data Quality Control Plans

By December 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries to formulate data quality control plans for the year 2027 through the Management Platform.

(2) Monthly Informatization Certification of Carbon Emission Statistical Accounting Data

Within 40 natural days after the end of each month, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries to carry out monthly informatization certification of carbon emission statistical accounting data through the Management Platform.

(3) Submission of Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission Reports

By March 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries to submit annual greenhouse gas emission reports for the year 2025 through the Management Platform.

(4) Technical Review of Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission Reports

By June 30, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall complete the technical review (hereinafter referred to as verification) of the annual greenhouse gas emission reports for the year 2025 for key emission units in the power generation industry and notify the key emission units of the verification results through the Management Platform. By July 31, 2026, the verification of emission reports for key emission units in the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries and the notification of verification results shall be completed.

(5) Evaluation of Verification Technical Service Institutions

By November 30, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall evaluate the work quality, compliance, and timeliness of verification technical service institutions for the year 2025 in accordance with the "Guidelines for the Verification of Enterprise Greenhouse Gas Emission Reports (Trial)." The evaluation results shall be publicly announced through the Management Platform and the official websites of the provincial-level departments of ecology and environment.

III. Strengthen Quota Allocation and Settlement Management for Key Emission Units

(1) Pre-allocation of Quotas

By April 10, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall pre-allocate carbon emission quotas for the year 2025 to key emission units in the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries. By June 30, 2026, carbon emission quotas for the year 2025 shall be pre-allocated to key emission units in the power generation industry.

(2) Quota Determination and Allocation

By September 20, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall determine the quota amounts to be allocated to key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries for the year 2025 based on the verification results for the year 2025 and in accordance with the annual total quota and allocation plan. Relevant data tables shall be submitted in writing to the national carbon emission trading registration authority for the registration of the determined quotas. By September 30, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall allocate carbon emission quotas for the year 2025 to key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries.

(3) Quota Settlement

By December 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize key emission units in the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries to complete the full and timely settlement of carbon emission quotas for the year 2025.

IV. Management Requirements for Enterprises in Other Key Industries

(1) Determining the Scope of Management for Emission Reporting in Other Key Industries

Units in the petrochemical, chemical, building materials (flat glass), non-ferrous metals (copper smelting), papermaking, and civil aviation industries, as well as steel and cement industry enterprises that have not yet been included in the list of key emission units in the national carbon emission trading market, with annual greenhouse gas emissions reaching 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (equivalent to comprehensive energy consumption of approximately 10,000 tons of standard coal) (other key industries and their codes are provided in Appendix 4), shall be included in the scope of annual greenhouse gas emission reporting management under this notice. Local authorities shall organize the verification of emission reports for such enterprises for the year 2025.

(2) Management Requirements for Enterprises in the Petrochemical, Chemical, Building Materials (Flat Glass), Non-ferrous Metals (Copper Smelting), Papermaking, and Civil Aviation Industries

By March 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize enterprises in the petrochemical, chemical, building materials (flat glass), non-ferrous metals (copper smelting), papermaking, and civil aviation industries to submit annual greenhouse gas emission reports for the year 2025 and supplementary data accounting reports (the template for supplementary data accounting reports is provided in Appendix 5) through the Management Platform.

By December 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall complete the verification of emission reports for the year 2025 for the aforementioned enterprises in accordance with the "Guidelines for the Verification of Enterprise Greenhouse Gas Emission Reports (Trial)." Relevant reports shall be submitted to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment through the Management Platform (report templates can be downloaded from the Management Platform).

(3) Management Requirements for Steel and Cement Industry Enterprises Not Yet Included in the National Carbon Emission Trading Market

By March 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall organize steel and cement industry enterprises with annual direct emissions reaching 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent that have not yet been included in the list of key emission units in the national carbon emission trading market to prepare annual greenhouse gas emission reports for the year 2025 in accordance with the technical specifications listed in Appendix 3 of this notice and submit the emission reports through the Management Platform.

By July 31, 2026, provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall complete the verification of emission reports for the year 2025 for the aforementioned enterprises in accordance with the technical specifications listed in Appendix 3 of this notice. Relevant reports shall be submitted to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment through the Management Platform.

V. Enhance Implementation Efforts

(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership

Local departments of ecology and environment at all levels shall thoroughly implement the spirit of the "Opinions of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council on Promoting Green and Low-Carbon Transformation and Strengthening the Construction of the National Carbon Market," diligently carry out the management of the list of key emission units, data quality management of carbon emissions, and the allocation and settlement of carbon emission quotas in their respective regions, promptly summarize and highlight the effectiveness and cases of data quality management, and complete all tasks under this notice with high quality.

(2) Strengthen Capacity Building

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment shall provide policy interpretation and capacity-building training for provincial-level departments of ecology and environment and technical support units, and rely on relevant industry associations to conduct policy promotion for newly included key emission units. Provincial-level departments of ecology and environment shall increase technical support efforts and organize specialized training on data quality management of carbon emissions and the allocation and settlement of carbon emission quotas.

(3) Strengthen Supervision and Enforcement

Local departments of ecology and environment at all levels shall strictly implement the provisions of the "Interim Regulations on the Management of Carbon Emission Trading," incorporate carbon market data quality management and quota settlement compliance into daily supervision and enforcement work, and severely crack down on fraudulent practices in carbon emission data.

Any issues encountered during work and relevant opinions or suggestions shall be promptly reported to our ministry.

Contacts: Su Mian, Cao Yu, Jiang Songhua from the Department of Climate Change Response

Telephone: (010) 65645668, 65645634

Appendices:

1. Requirements for Formulating the List of Key Emission Units in the National Carbon Emission Trading Market for the Year 2027

2.List of Key Emission Units in the National Carbon Emission Trading Market for ** Province (Autonomous Region/Municipality) for the Year 2027 (** Industry) (Public Format Template)

3.List of Technical Specifications for Carbon Emission Accounting, Reporting, and Verification in the National Carbon Emission Trading Market

4.Other Key Industries and Their Codes

5.Template for Supplementary Data Accounting Report for Carbon Emissions in 20XX

General Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment

January 27, 2026