This report tracks and quantitatively assesses the green and low-carbon transition of 30 Chinese provincial-level regions over the decade from 2013 to 2022 using the Subnational Low-Carbon and Green Index for China (Subnational LOGIC), which encompasses 26 indicators across four categories: carbon productivity; carbon emissions (covering energy, power, industry, buildings, transport, and agriculture); environmental conditions and land use; and policy systems and public participation. The analysis employs multiple classification frameworks—economic-geographic regions, economic development stages (Pioneer, Leading, Catching-Up, and Developing Economies), national major regional strategies, and energy development positioning—to identify structural divergences in transition patterns. It finds that scores improved across all provinces, with carbon productivity, energy, and power showing nationwide progress while transport, buildings, and industry remain key frontiers for deep decarbonization. The report also presents in-depth case studies of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Shanxi, and Hainan to examine differentiated transition pathways across economic development stages.

This report analyzes the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as it transitions from its preparatory phase to full implementation, focusing on three critical policy areas with direct implications for Chinese exporters: the recognition of carbon prices paid in producing countries, the potential conditional acceptance of international carbon credits, and the technical alignment between CBAM and the EU ETS free allowance benchmarks. The methodology combines systematic legal review of the CBAM Regulation and its implementing acts with practical policy assessment, drawing on official EU legislative documents, technical studies from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European University Institute (EUI), and expert reports from adelphi and the Climate Club. The research examines the regulatory texts, identifies remaining uncertainties, and derives forward-looking policy recommendations for Chinese authorities and enterprises.

This paper analyzes the long-term impact of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on China's steel industry, with a focus on quantifying the resulting cost burden and identifying the key drivers and mitigating factors. The methodology employs a dynamic, process-level scenario-based model (CBAM-CST) that links three steel production routes (BF-BOF, DRI-EAF, and Scrap-EAF) with their emission intensities, energy transition pathways, carbon pricing systems (EU ETS and China's national carbon market), and trade flows through 2050. The model integrates three sub-modules—inflation and exchange rates, CBAM certificate cost calculation, and China's steel low-carbon transformation—to simulate CBAM obligations across multiple scenarios (BAU, DCS, and NES), with sensitivity analyses examining the effects of EU ETS carbon prices, domestic carbon market inclusion, electricity decarbonization, and hydrogen utilization on total certificate costs.

This policy brief analyzes the green and low-carbon development content in provincial-level recommendations for China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). It systematically reviews 30 provincial documents to identify key "dual-carbon" (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality) priorities, including carbon peaking timelines, carbon emissions dual-control systems, new energy system construction, sectoral transitions (industry, transport, buildings, agriculture), and the deployment of zero-carbon parks, zero-carbon factories, and climate adaptation measures. The analysis is based on a systematic review and comparative analysis of provincial policy texts, categorizing and quantifying the frequency and content of policy keywords to identify regional patterns, alignment with national priorities, and local-level implementation focuses.

As of January 2026, a total of 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China had released the full text of their “15th Five-Year Plan” proposals. iGDP found that while the policy statements regarding the priorities of green transition in each province showed a high degree of alignment with the national “15th Five-Year Plan” proposal, they also featured notable local highlights.

This policy brief examines the development of zero-carbon parks in China, analyzing the transition from fragmented local experimentation to nationally coordinated planning. It reviews the policy landscape and standard-setting landscape, categorizing standards into three types (group standards, local standards, and provincial action plans). It then identifies three differentiated regional development models based on analysis of 80 zero-carbon park pilots across eight provinces: emerging industry-driven (eastern coastal regions), clean energy-driven (southwestern regions), and energy transition-driven (central regions). The analysis also synthesizes the multi-dimensional characteristics of park development—energy, industry, transport, buildings, ecology, resource cycling, carbon management, and carbon sinks—and discusses the implications of the July 2025 national policy that formalized zero-carbon park development at the central government level.