Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012)

The report summarizes China's low-carbon progress during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), noting a 19.06% reduction in energy intensity despite a 33.6% increase in total emissions. Key drivers included technological upgrades and structural economic shifts, supported by massive investments in renewables (1.73 trillion yuan) and energy efficiency (859.2 billion yuan). While large enterprises and government-led administrative targets drove success, the report highlights challenges for the 12th Five-Year Plan, including the need to support small and medium enterprises and manage rising energy demand from urbanization.

• During the 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period (2006-2010), China achieved a 19.06 percent reduction in energy intensity relative to a 2005 baseline, which equated to an energy intensity improvement of 630 Mtce and a CO2 emissions reduction of 1550 Mt. This improvement was primarily driven by technological development (69 percent) and structural adjustment (23 percent), with energy-efficiency improvements accounting for 87 percent of the total CO2 emissions reduction.
• Despite declines in emissions intensity, China's total emissions volume rose by 33.6 percent during the 11th FYP, leading China to surpass the United States in 2007 as the world's largest emitter.
• China's low-carbon policy framework during the 11th FYP utilized administrative, incentive, and market instruments to reduce carbon emissions. Administrative instruments reduced emissions by 473 MtCO2, incentive instruments by 777 MtCO2, and market instruments by 15 MtCO2 compared to the baseline.
• Between 2006 and 2010, China became the global leader in investment for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Cumulative investment in new and renewable energy totaled 1.73 trillion yuan (USD 266.6 billion), distributed across hydropower (621.8 billion yuan), wind power (469.9 billion yuan), nuclear power (366.8 billion yuan), solar photovoltaic power (199.7 billion yuan), and biomass (74.9 billion yuan).
• China invested 859.2 billion yuan in energy efficiency during the 11th FYP, with private investment contributing 733.1 billion yuan (85.3 percent) and government funding providing 126.1 billion yuan (14.7 percent). The industry sector accounted for 64.1 percent (551.1 billion yuan) of this investment, while the building sector accounted for 30.2 percent (259.3 billion yuan).
• The industrial sector's energy intensity improved by 342 Mtce compared to the baseline, with the 'Top 1,000' largest energy-intensive enterprises contributing 150 Mtce, or 43 percent of the sector's total improvement.
• Direct emissions from building operation and transportation accounted for approximately 30 percent of China's total carbon emissions in 2010, representing a 41 percent increase from 2005. Additionally, building construction and material production accounted for 13.5 percent of total emissions in 2010.
• The 12th Five-Year Plan sets ambitious targets: a 16 percent reduction in energy intensity, a 17 percent reduction in carbon intensity, and a 11.4 percent share of non-fossil energy in total primary energy consumption.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2012). Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012). https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/China-Country-Study-Chapter-Summaries-Updated.pdf

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012). 2012. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/China-Country-Study-Chapter-Summaries-Updated.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012) |date=30 January 2012 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/China-Country-Study-Chapter-Summaries-Updated.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2012annual, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012)}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2012}, month = jan, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/China-Country-Study-Chapter-Summaries-Updated.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }