NOVEMBER 2023 CHINA ENERGY POLICY NEWSLETTER China Energy Transformation Programme 1. China energy transition updates China and the United States jointly released a statement on tackling climate change On November 15, 2023, China and the United States jointly released the document the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis (CNH: 关于加强合作应对气候危机的阳光之乡声明)1, reaffirming their commitment to work jointly and together with other countries to address the climate crisis. The Statement points out that China and the United States remain committed to the effective implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances, to achieve the Paris Agreement’s aim in accordance with its Article 2 to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C, including efforts to keep 1.5 degrees C within reach. China and the United States decide to operationalize the Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, to engage in dialogue and cooperation to accelerate concrete climate actions in the 2020s. The Working Group will focus on the areas of cooperation that have been identified in the Joint Statement and the Joint Declaration, including on energy transition, methane, circular economy and resource efficiency, low-carbon and sustainable provinces/states & cities, and deforestation, as well as any agreed topics. In terms of energy transition, both countries support the G20 Leaders Declaration to pursue efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030 and intend to sufficiently accelerate renewable energy deployment in their respective economies through 2030 from 2020 levels so as to accelerate the substitution for coal, oil and gas generation, and thereby anticipate post-peaking meaningful absolute power sector emission reduction, in this critical decade of the 2020s. Both sides agree to restart the China-U.S. Energy Efficiency Forum to deepen policy exchanges on energy-saving and carbon-reducing solutions in key areas including industry, buildings, transportation, and equipment. China and the United States intend to recommence bilateral dialogues on energy policies and strategies, carry out exchanges on mutually “关于加强合作应对气候危机的阳光之乡声明,” Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 15 November 2023, accessed at https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202311/t20231115_1056452.shtml. 1 If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please send your full name, organization and title to china@ens.dk 2 agreed topics, and facilitate track II activities to enhance pragmatic cooperation. The two countries aim to advance at least 5 large-scale cooperative CCUS projects each by 2030, including from industrial and energy sources.  Interns of methane and other non-CO2 GHG emissions, the two countries will implement their respective national methane action plans and intend to elaborate further measures, as appropriate. China and the United States, with the United Arab Emirates, invite countries to a Methane and Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases Summit at COP 28. MEE releases methane emission control action plan In 2007, the State Council clearly stated in the China National Plan to Address Climate Change that efforts should be made to control the growth rate of methane emissions. Since then, the Work Plans for Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions issued during the 12th Five-Year Plan and 13th Five-Year Plan periods (2011-2020) proposed specific measures. On November 7, 2023, 11 departments, including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) jointly issued the Methane Emission Control Action Plan (CHN: 甲烷排放控制行动方案). This is China's first national policy document specifically for methane emission control, and it is the top-level design and deployment of methane emission control work. The Methane Plan clarifies for the first time the methane emission control targets and major tasks in key areas such as energy, agriculture, garbage, and sewage by 2030. Also, it requires strengthening methane monitoring, accounting, reporting, and verification systems.2 Data is the basis for improving methane emission control capabilities. The Methane Plan requires large emission sources such as coal mines, oi