(Yicai) June 11 -- Regarding the lack of national and industry standards for product carbon footprint accounting in China, several industry experts suggested adopting a market-driven approach.

A batch of products for research and development of carbon accounting standards should be selected and implemented on a trial basis, the experts told Yicai.

A product's carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions across its life cycle stages -- from raw material acquisition, production, transportation, and usage to final disposal or recycling -- and it is a key indicator for measuring the green and low-carbon levels of manufacturing enterprises and products. Developed countries have started to promote the accounting, evaluation, and certification systems for PCFs.

Considering the varying degrees of demand for carbon footprint evaluations across different products, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has selected a group of products for carbon accounting standard research, said Chen Sheng, deputy director of the ministry's Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. The products include cement, electrolytic aluminum, photovoltaic modules, flat glass, and lithium batteries for new energy vehicles, Chen added.

Once established, these standards will be implemented on a trial basis, providing a reference for developing carbon accounting standards for other products.

"In the absence of national and industry standards for PCF accounting, it is urgent to base efforts on the national context to ensure that the standards not only meet international guidelines but also align with the actual characteristics of domestic industries," Chen pointed out.  

The MEE will speed up the construction of the product carbon labeling certification system, the PCF grading management system, and the carbon footprint information disclosure system, noted Tian Chunxiu, deputy director of the ministry's Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy.

The MEE also plans to pilot the implementation of carbon footprint accounting in eligible regions and industries, aiming to develop the capability for "full-chain" or "key segment" accounting of the carbon footprint for major products, Tian added.  

According to a policy issued by 15 government departments, including the MEE, last week, China must set up a preliminary carbon footprint management system by 2027, formulate and release national general standards for PCF accounting that align with global markets, and carbon footprint accounting rules for about 100 key products.

The scope will expand to around 200 key products by 2030, while a comprehensive PCF factor database will also be established, characterized by comprehensive coverage, high data quality, and strong global influence.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev