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China's renewable energy and energy efficiency policies toward carbon neutrality: A systematic cross-sectoral review

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  • Yiqun Yang
  • Kevin Lo

Abstract

The ambitious targets of peaking CO 2 emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality before 2060 (Goal 3060) have emerged as the driving force in the development of China's low-carbon energy policy. Adopting a systematic review approach, this article provides a timely analysis of key Chinese renewable energy and energy efficiency policies under Goal 3060 across five sectors: electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, and local governments. In addition, the review identifies challenges to be addressed and offers policy recommendations. There are five main conclusions: (1) expedite the development of market-based and network-based governance systems; (2) pursue the harmonization of policies by avoiding contradiction and fragmentation; (3) develop new policies, especially in the building and transportation sectors; (4) embrace surveillance technologies to improve implementation and compliance; and (5) ensure just transition by implementing policy to reduce the negative socioeconomic impacts on fossil fuels-based communities and workers. This review serves as a useful guide for scholars interested in China's clean and low-carbon energy transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Yiqun Yang & Kevin Lo, 2024. "China's renewable energy and energy efficiency policies toward carbon neutrality: A systematic cross-sectoral review," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(1), pages 491-509, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:engenv:v:35:y:2024:i:1:p:491-509
    DOI: 10.1177/0958305X231167472
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    2. Xia, Chunxun & Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel & Raza Syed, Qasim, 2025. "Electricity generation from renewable and non-renewable energy sources in China: The role of environmental policy stringency, FDI, and economic growth," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    3. Ismail Haloui & Hayat Amzil & Guosongrui Yang & Ibrahim Fourati & Yang Li, 2025. "The Impact of Renewable Energy Use, Financial Development, and Industrialization on CO 2 Emissions in Middle-Income Economies—A GMM-PVAR Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-25, September.
    4. Iram Hasan & Shveta Singh & Smita Kashiramka, 2025. "Does Socially Responsible Investing Outperform Conventional Investing? A Cross-Country Perspective," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 32(4), pages 1307-1356, December.
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    6. Soltani, Amir, 2025. "Advanced graph-based machine learning reveals cross-sector drivers of decarbonization in the United States and China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 397(C).
    7. Simionescu, Mihaela & Radulescu, Magdalena, 2025. "Electricity prices, renewable energy, and sustainability of the energy and manufacturing sectors in the new EU member states," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).

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