China approves two international standards for greenhouse gas emissions

China approves two international standards for greenhouse gas emissions
Hanna Velyka

The state wants to strengthen its role in global climate governance

The China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) has received approval for its application to expand the Asia-Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) to include a multilateral agreement on the recognition of ISO 14064-1 and ISO 14064-2.

This was reported by Cheng Yulin, editor of SteelHome, a leading independent website on the Chinese steel market, on LinkedIn.

He emphasized that this event marks China's deeper alignment with international greenhouse gas emissions management standards and gives new impetus to low-carbon development.

What is ISO 14064?

The ISO 14064 series is a globally recognized greenhouse gas emissions management system for quantification, monitoring, reporting, validation and verification. Its standards are widely used as a key benchmark for emissions reductions.

Its main parts are:

  • ISO 14064-1: establishes principles and requirements for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals at the organization level;
  • ISO 14064-2: addresses projects to reduce or remove emissions, providing validation/verification of such projects;
  • ISO 14064-3: describes the requirements for validation and verification of greenhouse gas claims.

This system is the basis for the development of carbon offset projects, internal emissions trading systems, and decarbonization strategies.

Why it matters

The APAC approval confirms that Chinese certification bodies can provide internationally recognized emissions verification. This is critical for:

  • participation in international carbon markets;
  • attracting foreign investors to green projects;
  • avoiding technical barriers to green trade.

Cheng Yulin believes that the adoption of these standards will increase China's credibility in carbon management and promote regional cooperation and knowledge sharing on emission reduction strategies.

The expert is confident that the China Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) will make full use of certification, accreditation and testing to

  • strengthening the green competitiveness of Chinese enterprises;
  • provide technical support to help them achieve their carbon neutrality goals;
  • help companies overcome green trade barriers (e.g., CBAM in the EU).

As EcoPolitic reported in February, last year China began construction of the largest coal-fired power plant capacity in 10 years.

Related
Who can help businesses with emissions reporting: leading companies in the environmental services sector in Ukraine
Who can help businesses with emissions reporting: leading companies in the environmental services sector in Ukraine

The requirement to submit reports has been reinstated, the rules are becoming more complex, and the responsibility for errors remains with the company

The US is lifting restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power stations
The US is lifting restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power stations

It is the energy sector that is responsible for over a quarter of the US’s emissions

The European Parliament has extended the scope of the CBAM to cover derivative products and closed loopholes that allowed the rules to be circumvented
The European Parliament has extended the scope of the CBAM to cover derivative products and closed loopholes that allowed the rules to be circumvented

At the same time, EU exporters who are hardest hit by the SVAM may be eligible for support from the Temporary Decarbonisation Fund as early as 2027