Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: Coordinate systematic research and formulation of carbon management policies with policies such as automobile energy saving management and carbon emission rights trading
The Zhitong Finance App learned that the head of the Equipment Industry Department I of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology answered questions from reporters on the “Notice on Launching the Carbon Footprint Declaration Work for Automobile Power Batteries”. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology mentioned in the Q&A that it will implement the “double carbon” strategic decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, adhere to the system concept, strengthen work linkages with the General Administration of Market Supervision and other departments to jointly promote the construction of a carbon footprint management system. It will systematically research and formulate carbon management policies based on the reporting and accounting work situation, and coordinate organic links with automobile energy saving management and carbon emission rights trading policies.
The original text is as follows:
The head of the Equipment Industry Department I of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology answered questions from reporters on the “Notice on Launching the Carbon Footprint Declaration Work for Automobile Power Batteries”
On December 30, 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the “Notice on Launching the Carbon Footprint Declaration Work for Automobile Power Batteries” (Circular Letter of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (2025) No. 551) (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). Relevant officials of the Equipment Industry Division I of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology answered questions from reporters on issues related to the “Notice”.
Question 1: What is the background behind the publication of the “Notice”?
Answer: Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a major strategic decision made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core to coordinate the two major issues at home and abroad. It is the only way for China to promote high-quality development in the new stage of development. The carbon footprint of a product is a key indicator for measuring the total carbon emission level of a product throughout its life cycle. Implementing carbon footprint management for key products is a necessary measure to implement the country's “double carbon” strategic goal. In July 2024, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Work Plan on Accelerating the Establishment of a Dual Carbon Emissions Control System”, which proposes to focus on key products such as power batteries and new energy vehicles and accelerate the establishment of a carbon footprint management system in accordance with the principle of urgent use first. The 2025 government work report clearly states that carbon footprint accounting should be carried out, product carbon footprint management systems and carbon labeling certification systems should be established, and green trade barriers should be actively addressed.
Power batteries are the core components of new energy vehicles and a key product for global carbon footprint management. After years of cultivation and development, China has established an industrial system with a complete structure and organic collaboration, leading the world in power battery technology and market size, and has a good foundation for exploring and constructing a carbon footprint management system. To implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on carbon peak and carbon neutrality, our department researched and issued a “Notice” to use the carbon footprint declaration of power batteries as an entry point to speed up the construction of support systems such as standards and regulations, background data, monitoring and measurement, accounting rules, evaluation and certification, promote international mutual recognition of accounting methods and factor data, promote the establishment of a scientifically standardized carbon emission accounting system, and create favorable conditions for the green and low-carbon development of the global power battery industry.
Question 2: What are the ideas for managing the carbon footprint of power batteries? What are the key principles that have been grasped during the research and formulation of the Notice?
A: The “Notice” puts forward the work idea of “demand traction, system promotion, open cooperation, and continuous improvement” based on industry reality. The current focus is on exploring the establishment of a carbon footprint accounting framework system for power batteries, organizing enterprises to carry out declarations, and not putting forward management requirements for the time being. The overall goal is: by the end of 2026, the power battery carbon footprint industry background database system will be basically completed, a carbon footprint management system will be basically established, and accounting rules, certification standards, background data, and conformity assessment will gradually be brought into line with the international community.
In the process of formulating the “Notice”, we focused on achieving the “Four Persistence”: the first is to insist on demand guidance and overall promotion. By carrying out carbon footprint accounting and reporting for power batteries, we effectively guide the allocation of industry resources, gather the strength of industry enterprises, accelerate the construction of data systems, accounting capabilities, and certification systems, and form a systematic work pattern.
Second, insist on being realistic and open and inclusive. Drawing on internationally accepted methodologies, closely connecting with mainstream international evaluation standards, relying on the actual and practical foundations of China's industry, it puts forward accounting requirements such as cycle life and power models, and focuses on constructing an accounting system that conforms to China's reality and is compatible with the international community.
The third is to insist on progressing step by step. Carrying out data declarations is an important exploration to promote the establishment of a carbon footprint management system for power batteries. The “Notice” clearly proposes to proceed step by step. The trial operation phase is until the end of 2026. During this period, the enterprise will carry out typical product declarations, enter the normalized declaration stage starting in 2027, and then cover all product models of the enterprise to ensure the smooth and orderly development of work.
Fourth, insist on opening doors and continuing to improve. Promote the establishment of rules for data authorization and commercial application, establish a long-term mechanism for data collection and update, and encourage all parties to participate in the construction of an industry factor database. Establish open expert recruitment channels, open up expert team building, support the development of factor reviews, accounting reviews, policy research, etc., and continuously improve the management system.
Question 3: What are the main tasks carried out during the formulation of the “Notice”?
A: The first is to conduct in-depth research. Organize numerous discussions with industry enterprises on relevant work ideas, accounting methods, etc., solicit opinions from relevant departments and industry organizations in writing, and conduct in-depth research on industry factor database construction and carbon footprint verification standards. The second is to establish accounting rules. Clarify carbon footprint accounting boundaries, formulate implementation guidelines for accounting rules, put forward implementation requirements for data quality control, and formulate national and industry standards such as general carbon footprint accounting rules and carbon footprint quantification methods for power batteries. The third is to speed up factor construction. Build a factor database for the power battery industry, establish a factor classification system, collect and integrate data resources from upstream and downstream enterprises and institutions in the industrial chain through multiple channels, and form a factor database to support carbon footprint accounting. The fourth is to build an information platform. In accordance with the principle of “original data is not available, data cannot be used”, an intensive carbon footprint information platform is built to integrate functions such as data reporting, data accounting, third-party verification, and dynamic factor data management to facilitate the participation of industry enterprises.
Q4: What is the basic logic of carbon footprint accounting? What are the special design considerations? How can coordination with the international community be promoted in the future?
A: The basic logic of calculating the carbon footprint of power batteries is to divide the total carbon emissions from the four stages of material acquisition, battery manufacturing, distribution and transportation, and recycling by the total energy provided by the power battery pack throughout the life cycle. Among these, two types of data support are required: the first category is energy use and material usage data generated by battery pack manufacturing, distribution, transportation, and recycling activities that can be monitored, or “activity data,” which needs to be provided by battery pack manufacturers together with upstream and downstream enterprises. Another category is carbon emission data for the energy used, upstream and downstream raw materials, and non-separable components, or “background data,” which is established under the leadership of industry authorities. Activity data such as energy consumption and material usage is multiplied by the carbon emission data per unit of energy consumption and materials used in the background data and summed up to obtain the total carbon emissions of power battery pack products.
Based on the actual situation in China, after fully soliciting opinions from industry enterprises, there are two outstanding features in the design of the accounting method: the first is to approve the green certificate and regional power grid factors, and set up electricity models such as direct physical connections, specific power supply, and national average. The main considerations are: China has a wide geographical area, different electricity sources and levels from place to place. Approval of green certificates and regional factors can better reflect the real carbon footprint. Second, the measured number of cycles is used to calculate the carbon footprint level for cycle life. China's national standard for power battery cycle life has been implemented for 10 years. It has a good foundation for scientifically measuring the cycle life of products. Priority is given to determining product cycle life through actual measurement methods and accounting based on this, which is conducive to guiding innovative application of advanced technology.
We have noticed that some international countries and regions have put forward different ideas in the process of formulating similar policies. According to our research, power batteries were industrialized earlier in China and the scale of the industry is the largest, and the proposed accounting method is based on thorough application practices. In the future, we will strengthen exchanges and communication with relevant international parties at various levels, including the government, industry institutions, and enterprises, promote the unification of accounting rules and mutual recognition of results, and contribute China's strength to the innovation and development of the global power battery industry.
Question 5: What subjects are involved in the power battery carbon footprint data declaration? What work does each entity need to carry out?
A: The declaration of carbon footprint data for power batteries involves different links in the industrial chain, mainly involving five categories of subjects.
First, power battery pack manufacturers, including power battery pack manufacturers, power battery pack importers, and automobile manufacturers that assemble power battery packs themselves, are responsible subjects for this data declaration. This type of entity shall register an account in the automobile power battery carbon footprint information platform (hereinafter referred to as the information platform) accounting module, fill in data quality control measures, enter the carbon footprint activity data for each link, carry out accounting and upload the results, and push the accounting situation to a third party inspection agency, and cooperate with the certification process.
Second, upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain, including suppliers of raw materials, parts, transportation, recycling, etc. are collaborators in reporting carbon footprint data. Such entities also need to register accounts in the information platform accounting module, promptly provide relevant data to power battery pack manufacturers, and ensure that the data is traceable and verifiable.
Third, a third-party inspection agency is the subject of evaluation and certification of carbon footprint results. Such entities should also register accounts on the information platform accounting module, carry out objective and impartial inspections and issue inspection reports on the carbon footprint accounting process and data of power battery pack manufacturers in accordance with relevant national or industry standards and specifications.
Fourth, factor data providers include scientific research institutions, industry organizations, institutions of higher learning, upstream and downstream enterprises, etc. This type of entity is a co-builder of industry background databases. They can register accounts in the information platform factor submission module, fill in background database factors, and continuously update and improve. The factor provider owns the factors and can check the citations of the submitted factors at any time.
Fifth, experts and scholars familiar with the situation in the power battery industry chain and engaged in related work, such as industry experts, industry organizations, institutions of higher learning, evaluation and inspection agencies, etc. can apply to join the expert pool to participate in factor data reviews, management policy research, etc.
Question 6: After the “Notice” is issued, what next steps will be taken to promote the continuous implementation of related work?
A: Our department will implement the “double carbon” strategic decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, adhere to the systematic concept, strengthen work coordination with the General Administration of Market Supervision and other departments, and work together to promote the construction of a carbon footprint management system:
The first is to earnestly carry out the reporting process. Deeply carry out the carbon footprint declaration work for power batteries, summarize and evaluate in a timely manner, speed up management system and system capacity building, and consolidate the foundation for carbon footprint management.
The second is to improve the system of standards and regulations. Accelerate standards such as enterprise carbon emission accounting and reporting, carbon footprint quantification methods and requirements, verification and implementation of technical specifications, data monitoring and measurement, and factor database certification. Actively participate in the formulation of international rules and standards to promote connectivity.
The third is to carry out research on supporting policies. Based on the reporting and accounting process, carbon management policies are systematically studied and formulated, and organic links are made with policies such as automobile energy saving management and carbon emission rights trading in an integrated manner.
Fourth, strengthen departmental coordination. Accelerate the construction of industry-level rules, standards, factor databases and carbon management systems, make good coordination with relevant work at the national level, strengthen division of labor, implementation and coordination, and ensure the orderly progress and effective implementation of all tasks.
Power battery carbon footprint management is a complex system project. Currently, it is still in the exploration stage and needs continuous improvement in practice. We sincerely hope that enterprises in the industry will provide full support and cooperation, put forward more valuable opinions and suggestions, and work together to establish a scientific and open system to provide a solid guarantee for the healthy and sustainable development of the industry.
This article was selected from the “Ministry of Industry and Information Technology” official website, Zhitong Finance Editor: Liu Jiayin.