On May 23, 2025, the State Council Executive Meeting deliberated and adopted the Manufacturing Industry Green and Low-Carbon Development Action Plan (2025-2027)(hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan"). The meeting sent a clear signal that the green and low-carbon development of the manufacturing industry is a strategic requirement for fully implementing the new development philosophy, and a key driver and core momentum for promoting high-quality economic development. The adoption of this important document has pushed "green manufacturing" to the forefront of industrial transformation. The journey from being a "manufacturing powerhouses" to a "manufacturing superpower"—a new industrial revolution with green development as its foundation—is reshaping the future of China's economy.
I. Policy Background: China Leading the Global Green Revolution
As the only country in the world that has elevated "ecological civilization construction" to a national strategy, China, guided by ecological civilization principles, regards a good ecological environment as the most equitable public good and the most inclusive form of public welfare. The goal is to ensure that people gain a greater sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security from a sound ecological environment. It aims to plan for both current development and the well-being of future generations, ensuring the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and civilization, and building a modernization where humanity and nature truly coexist in harmony.With the deepening of global climate governance, the green and low-carbon transformation of China's manufacturing industry is not only a need for environmental protection but also an inevitable choice to enhance industrial competitiveness and achieve sustainable development. As the world's largest manufacturing nation, China shoulders significant responsibilities for promoting global green transformation. Through green manufacturing, China is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and driving the transformation of its manufacturing industry from "large-scale" to "high-quality."
II. The Action Plan: A Roadmap for Green Manufacturing Transformation
(A) Focus Areas of the Action Plan
According to a press briefing by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in October 2024, the Action Plan will focus on improving green and low-carbon development mechanisms, concentrating on the following three areas:
1. Accelerating the Formulation of Carbon Footprint Accounting Standards for Industrial Products
Focusing on key products such as steel, electrolytic aluminum, lithium batteries, and new energy vehicles, efforts will be made to rapidly develop a batch of carbon footprint accounting standards. This will drive industrial enterprises to reduce carbon emissions throughout the product lifecycle and promote the transformation and upgrading of industrial chains and supply chains.
2. Strengthening the Construction of a New Integrated Solid Waste Utilization System
For used power batteries, formulate and issue management measures for comprehensive utilization, revise and release industry standards for comprehensive utilization, and accelerate the establishment of a new recycling system.For used photovoltaic modules and other materials, strengthen pre-research and policy preparation for comprehensive utilization, and proactively lay out comprehensive utilization capabilities to prepare for the upcoming retirement peak.
3. Actively Promoting the Application of Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen in Industrial Fields
Aiming at the bottlenecks restricting the application of clean and low-carbon hydrogen, further advance policy integration and innovation. Accelerate its large-scale application in industries such as metallurgy,chemicals, and petrochemicals, and achieve multi-scenario application breakthroughs in industrial green microgrids,green shipping, green aviation, and other fields.
(B) Key Aspects Addressed by the Action Plan
Combining the Guiding Opinions of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Other Seven Departments on Accelerating the Green Development of the Manufacturing Industry with the latest policy trends, the Action Plan will focus on the following aspects:
1. Strengthening Green Technology Innovation and Application
Accelerating green scientific and technological innovation and the promotion of advanced green technologies is one of the core directions of the Action Plan. Through the research, development, and application of new green technologies, the fundamental transformation of manufacturing production methods can be achieved, reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution, and laying a green foundation for new industrialization. Examples include developing more efficient energy-saving technologies, environmentally friendly material production technologies, and widely applying these technologies across various manufacturing enterprises.
2. Promoting the Green Transformation of Traditional Industries
Traditional industries are a vital component of the manufacturing sector and a key and challenging area for green and low-carbon development. The Plan will leverage policies such as large-scale equipment updates to actively apply advanced equipment and processes, accelerating the green transformation and upgrading of key industries such as steel, chemicals, and building materials. This involves comprehensively optimizing production equipment and technological processes in traditional industries to improve energy efficiency, reduce pollutant emissions, and achieve a shift from high-energy consumption and high-pollution models to low-energy consumption and low-pollution ones.
3. Leading the Green Development of Emerging Industries
For emerging industries, the Plan emphasizes green development from a high starting point. It will increase the application of clean energy in emerging industries, promote green products, and enhance resource recycling capabilities. For example, in sectors such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaic industries, efforts will focus not only on industrial scale expansion but also on integrating green development concepts from the outset, adopting clean energy production, improving product green performance, and establishing sound resource recycling systems to achieve coordinated industrial development and environmental protection.
4. Strengthening Common Technology Research and Standard Improvement
Common technologies represent one of the key constraints to the green and low-carbon development of the manufacturing industry.Strengthening research on common technologies can provide robust technical support for industry development. Meanwhile, improving standards in key areas will help regulate enterprise production behaviors and ensure the quality and effectiveness of green and low-carbon development. Examples include formulating unified product carbon emission standards and green manufacturing process standards to guide enterprises in producing and managing according to these standards.
5. Optimizing Policies and Improving Service Systems
By optimizing relevant policies, a favorable policy environment will be created for the green and low-carbon development of the manufacturing industry. Measures may include fiscal subsidies, tax incentives, financial support, and other policies to encourage enterprises to actively pursue green transformation and innovation. Improving green manufacturing and service systems—including establishing green supply chain management systems, developing green financial services, and providing green technology consulting and certification services—will comprehensively support and assist enterprises in achieving transformation and upgrading, enhancing their capabilities and standards in green and low-carbon development.
III. Corporate Actions: Jointly "Manufacturing" a Green Future
The implementation of the Manufacturing Industry Green and Low-Carbon Development Action Plan (2025-2027) will bring far-reaching impacts to China's manufacturing industry. Through the deep green transformation of traditional industries and the high-starting-point green development of emerging industries, the manufacturing sector will gradually achieve full-chain low-carbon transformation and enhance its green and low-carbon competitive edge. This will not only help achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals but also drive China's manufacturing industry toward a new stage of high-quality development.
Over the next three years, all industries and regions must closely coordinate and actively implement the tasks outlined in the Plan to ensure the realization of green and low-carbon development goals. Through multi-faceted efforts in technological innovation, standard improvement, and system optimization, China's manufacturing industry will make significant contributions to global green transformation. Green manufacturing is not only the future of the manufacturing industry but also the future of China's economy. Let us collectively anticipate this new industrial revolution with green development as its foundation, bringing new vitality and opportunities to China's manufacturing industry.
Link:https://www.miit.gov.cn/xwfb/szyw/art/2025/art_090cc959a67747ea86e35d7ee5d60a26.html?(News from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, May 23)
