CCS in China: Toward an Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulatory Framework

This 2010 WRI policy brief argues that while China has strong political will and some applicable laws to support Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), it lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework for geologic storage. Given China's heavy reliance on coal, the brief suggests that CCS is necessary to reduce emissions post-2030. It proposes eight key safety and environmental criteria for storage regulations and suggests a pilot regulatory approach to manage the transition from demonstration projects to commercial deployment.

• China's heavy reliance on coal makes CCS a critical component of its energy models to achieve emissions reductions. In 2009, coal provided 70 percent of China's primary energy, and models suggest that without CCS, emissions would stabilize around 2030 but not decline.
• While China has established political support and some adaptable laws for CCS, it lacks a comprehensive domestic regulatory framework, especially for geological storage. The document suggests implementing a pilot regulatory framework for initial demonstrations that can be refined before wide-scale deployment.
• The World Resources Institute proposes eight key criteria for CO2 geologic storage regulations to ensure safety and environmental protection: site selection based on site-specific data, adapted monitoring plans, routine model/simulation reporting, comprehensive risk assessments, monitoring beyond the CO2 plume, regular framework reviews, clear post-closure stewardship plans, and public engagement.
• Existing Chinese laws can serve as a foundation for CCS regulation. The Law on the Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution is cited as a strong parallel because it governs pollution from source to final deposit, including transportation, and includes standards for siting, monitoring, and emergency response.
• CCS projects in China are subject to a project approval process for investments exceeding US$100 million. This process involves the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (MLR), and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) review by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).
• China has initiated several CCS research and demonstration projects. Petro China began a CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) project at the Jilin Oil Field in 2006. Other planned projects include GreenGen Co.’s IGCC plant and Shenhua’s direct coal-to-liquids plant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, the latter of which plans to inject 100,000 tons of CO2 per year.
• The document identifies several ministries with potential roles in CCS oversight: the MEP for environmental regulations, the MWR and MLR for surface and subsurface impacts, and the NDRC for high-level policy and financing approval.
• Liability for CCS-related damages in China may fall under the Tort Law of the People's Republic of China, which holds polluters liable for environmental pollution and establishes liability for 'ultrahazardous activity,' including damages resulting from 'high-pressure activities.'

APA

SELIGSOHN, D., LIU, Y., FORBES, S., DONGJIE, Z., & WEST, L. (2010). CCS in China: Toward an Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulatory Framework. World Resources Institute. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/ccs_in_china.pdf

Chicago

SELIGSOHN, DEBORAH, YUE LIU, SARAH FORBES, ZHANG DONGJIE, and LOGAN WEST. CCS in China: Toward an Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulatory Framework. World Resources Institute, 2010. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/ccs_in_china.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SELIGSOHN |first1=DEBORAH |last2=LIU |first2=YUE |last3=FORBES |first3=SARAH |last4=DONGJIE |first4=ZHANG |last5=WEST |first5=LOGAN |title=CCS in China: Toward an Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulatory Framework |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=August 2010 |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/ccs_in_china.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{seligsohn2010ccs, author = {SELIGSOHN, DEBORAH and LIU, YUE and FORBES, SARAH and DONGJIE, ZHANG and WEST, LOGAN}, title = {{CCS in China: Toward an Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulatory Framework}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2010}, month = aug, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/ccs_in_china.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }