【Ferro-alloys.com】China has introduced energy intensity and carbon emissions-related targets for the aviation segment in the 14th Five-Year Plan, paving the way for the inclusion of a key transportation sector in the country's carbon market.

The five-year economic plan is one of China's most important policy documents that maps out development strategies and sets growth targets. The 14th Five-Year Plan for 2021-2025, in particular, is expected to lay the groundwork for China's long-term decarbonization after its COP26 pledges.

Aviation presents challenges for the decarbonization of transportation due to few alternative fuels, but it remains a key contributor to global CO2 emissions. Carriers have committed to voluntary carbon reductions through programs like the International Civil Aviation Organization's, or ICAO's, market-based Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA.

Low-carbon technologies in China's civil aviation sector have been lagging, and energy intensity and emissions have been rising in recent years, as per the plan. It said the country's aviation fuel consumption per ton-km rose to 0.295 kg in 2020 from 0.293 kg in 2015, and carbon emissions per ton-km rose to 0.928 kg in 2020 from 0.926 kg.

The plan aims to reduce energy and carbon intensities, as well as pave the way for setting a price on carbon in the aviation sector by introducing carbon pricing mechanisms, and improving existing emission Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems.

It said carbon pricing needs to be market-based, well-coordinated with international stakeholders, and take China's economic realities and the sector's current development stage into consideration.

By 2025, China's aviation sector aims to reduce carbon emissions per ton-km by 4.5%, and energy consumption per person-time in the airport by 10% from 2020 levels, the plan outlined. It aims to increase total turnover by 17% annually, and total passengers by 17.2% annually.

The annual growth targets for total turnover and passengers are high at about 17% because the 2020 baseline levels are low. If compared with the 2019 level, the total turnover and total passengers are expected to grow by 5.2% and 5.9% annually, according to the plan.

China's air transportation turnover achieved an average 11% annual growth during 2015-2019, but the volume slumped 38% on the year in 2020 due to COVID-19 outbreak.

The global aviation sector has taken a hit since the pandemic and a drop in air traffic has also resulted in lower carbon footprint, but emissions will rebound with economic recovery.

• [Editor:zhaozihao]