Climate Action and the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in China

Summary:

In October 2011, seven ETS pilots (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Hubei and Shenzhen) were approved by the Chinese government. Starting in 2013 and 2014, they were designed to lay the foundation for a national ETS (scheduled to start in 2017), to ensure that carbon and energy intensity targets are achieved while minimising abatement costs.

The briefing outlines the key differences between the EU ETS and the Chinese ETS, the support provided to the development of the Chinese ETS from abroad, as well as the key challenges that lie ahead for the successful implementation of a national ETS in China.