[Interpretation] Guidelines for the Preparation of Carbon Footprint Accounting Rules and Standards for Key Industrial Products (with Illustrations)

To implement the deployment of carbon footprint management work by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, accelerate the improvement of carbon emission management levels for key industrial products, promote the green and low-carbon transformation of industries, and support the achievement of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued and implemented the "Guidelines for the Preparation of Carbon Footprint Accounting Rules Standards for Key Industrial Products" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines"). The relevant content is interpreted as follows:

The "Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Issuing the Work Plan for Accelerating the Construction of a Dual Control System for Carbon Emissions" requires the establishment of a carbon emission statistical accounting system, a product carbon labeling certification system, and a product carbon footprint management system. To implement the relevant deployment requirements and accelerate the establishment of a carbon footprint management system, five departments including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Transport jointly issued and implemented the "Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of a Product Carbon Footprint Management System," clearly proposing that industry authorities such as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology organize relevant industry associations, leading enterprises, and research institutes to study and formulate carbon footprint accounting rule standards for key products according to the principle of piloting group standards first and gradually converting them into industry or national standards; when conditions are mature, national or industry standards can be directly formulated. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and 15 other departments issued the "Notice on Issuing the Implementation Plan for Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System," proposing to develop carbon footprint accounting rule standards for key products according to the principle of piloting group standards first and gradually converting them into industry or national standards. Industry authorities, together with relevant departments, will release a recommended list of group standards. Group standards with a solid implementation foundation will be adopted as industry or national standards. Priority will be given to key products such as electricity, coal, natural gas, fuel oil, steel, electrolytic aluminum, cement, fertilizer, hydrogen, lime, glass, ethylene, synthetic ammonia, calcium carbide, methanol, lithium batteries, new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and electronic appliances. By 2027, about 100 carbon footprint accounting rule standards for key products will be formulated and issued.

Industry is an important field for carbon emissions. Accelerating the formulation of carbon footprint accounting rule standards for industrial products is of great significance for building a comprehensive product carbon footprint management system. Considering the wide variety and broad scope of industrial products, the long and highly interconnected upstream and downstream industrial chains, it is necessary to unify the management of the research and formulation of carbon footprint accounting rule standards for industrial products, regulate the priority scope of formulation, clarify work procedures, refine preparation requirements, and support the establishment of a unified and standardized carbon footprint management system.

The "Guidelines" include work objectives, formulation scope, work procedures, preparation requirements, promotion and implementation, etc. It aims to guide relevant industry associations (federations), standardization technical organizations, and professional standardization institutions to strengthen goal orientation, adhere to the principles of urgent needs first and systematic advancement, insist on government guidance and market leadership, take initiative, and coordinate implementation.

(1) Clarify work objectives. It proposes to gradually improve the carbon footprint accounting methods, rules, and standard system for key industrial products, promote the establishment of a product carbon footprint management system that fits the national conditions, facilitate the green and low-carbon transformation of industry, and support high-quality economic development. By 2027, 200 carbon footprint accounting rule standards for key industrial products will be formulated and issued, with significant expansion of application scenarios.

(2) Standardize the formulation scope. First, Regarding product types, focus on product areas with urgent market demand, significant emission reduction contributions, strong industrial chain relevance, obvious supply chain driving effects, and large international trade volumes. Priority will be given to formulating carbon footprint accounting rule standards for products in industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, petrochemicals, building materials, new energy vehicles, and electronic appliances. Second, Regarding granularity division, reference should be made to standards such as the National Bureau of Statistics' "National Economic Industry Classification," "Statistical Product Classification Catalogue," and "Consumer Goods Classification and Codes." Third, Regarding product scope, according to the working mechanism of maturing some, advancing some, and continuously improving, steadily and orderly expand the coverage of product scope.

(3) Clarify work procedures. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with relevant departments, will organize relevant industry associations, leading enterprises, research institutes, etc., to study and formulate carbon footprint accounting rule standards for key industrial products, release a recommended list of group standards, and provide unified and standardized rule standards for enterprises and institutions. Group standards with a solid implementation foundation will be adopted as industry or national standards; when conditions are mature, industry or national standards can be directly formulated.

(4) Refine preparation requirements. First, regarding the standard text, it is systematically stipulated that the product carbon footprint technical framework should be consistent with "Greenhouse Gas - Product Carbon Footprint - Quantification Requirements and Guidelines" (GB/T 24067), and the standard name should be uniformly named as "Greenhouse Gas Product Carbon Footprint Quantification Methods and Requirements XX Product," etc. Second, regarding the formulation and revision procedures, it requires broad participation of representatives from producers, operators, users, consumers, educational and research institutions, testing and certification bodies, government departments, and other relevant parties according to the principles of openness, transparency, and publicity, fully reflecting the common needs of all parties. The formulation of group standards should comply with the relevant requirements of the "Group Standard Management Regulations" and be issued in the form of social group documents. Third, regarding the formulation of cross-sector standards, it clearly proposes that when formulating relevant standards involving cross-sector fields, units in various fields should strengthen cooperation and communication, reach consensus, and promote collaboratively.

(5) Ensure effective promotion and implementation. First, expand channels for standard information release, encourage social groups to self-declare and publicly disclose group standard information on the standard information public service platform. Encourage various standardization research institutions or technical organizations to publicly disclose carbon footprint accounting rule standards free of charge. Second, support the promotion and training of standards, support multi-channel and multi-method publicity of product carbon footprint standards, as well as industry- and field-specific business training to improve the capabilities of all relevant parties. Third, promote the implementation of standards, actively promote the application of relevant standards in scenarios such as dual control of carbon emissions, low-carbon technology promotion, government procurement, product carbon labeling and certification, strengthen policy support and coordination, and accelerate the promotion of products with lower carbon footprints.

The "Guidelines" clarify the "roadmap" for carbon footprint accounting rule standards for industrial products. Relevant industry associations (federations), standardization technical organizations, and professional standardization institutions should accelerate the research and formulation of standards, steadily and orderly expand the coverage of product scope, and actively build a complete system of carbon footprint accounting rule standards for industrial products. According to the work system of "group standards—industry standards—national standards," establish a standard implementation evaluation and continuous update mechanism to provide unified and standardized rule standards for enterprises and institutions. Fully leverage the guiding role of product carbon footprints in enterprises' green and low-carbon transformation, enrich standard application scenarios, guide enterprises in low-carbon transformation, promote the transformation and upgrading of industrial and supply chains, and enhance green and low-carbon competitiveness.