China Issues Updated Carbon Emission Measurement Guidance Catalog
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) have jointly issued the Carbon Emission Measurement Capacity Building Guidance Catalog (2026 Edition), according to Xinhua News. The updated catalog, released on August 19, refines and expands the national carbon emission measurement technical system, building on the first edition issued in 2024.
The new catalog arrives at a pivotal moment for China’s climate policy. The national carbon market has been expanding rapidly, and the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its full collection period on January 1, 2026, creating urgent compliance challenges for Chinese exporters.
Expanding the Measurement Toolbox
The 2026 Edition represents a significant expansion over its predecessor. Key measurement parameters have increased from 39 to 58, testing standard methods grew from 82 to 169, and measuring instruments and equipment expanded from 108 to 229. National metrology technical specifications rose from 85 to 156, while social public metrology standards grew from 55 to 115, as reported by Economic Information Daily.
The catalog focuses on addressing measurement gaps in traditional industries while making forward-looking provisions for emerging sectors. In the steel industry, new testing standards were added for total carbon and sulfur content determination, supported by instruments including carbon-sulfur analyzers and spark discharge atomic emission spectrometers. In the cement sector, new measurement standards for calcium oxide and magnesium oxide content were introduced, with supporting equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers and potentiometric titrators.
According to SAMR, the updates respond to growing demands on the national carbon market. “Currently, the national carbon market coverage continues to expand, and the management intensity for steel and cement industries is increasing, placing higher demands on accurate accounting and full-chain traceability of carbon emission data,” the agency stated. “Additionally, as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism officially enters its collection period, Chinese export products face increasingly urgent carbon compliance challenges.”
Forward-Looking Provisions
The 2026 Edition also extends into new energy and frontier low-carbon technologies. In the new energy vehicle sector, the catalog improves the measurement system for charging facilities, standardizing electricity metering testing standards for AC charging piles and non-vehicle-mounted chargers.
For voluntary greenhouse gas reduction projects, the catalog systematically organizes measurement instruments across multiple project types, including afforestation carbon sinks, mangrove restoration, low-concentration coal mine gas utilization, grid-connected solar thermal power, grid-connected offshore wind power, and highway tunnel lighting energy-saving projects.
In the frontier carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) field, the catalog adds technical specifications for energy consumption measurement of flue gas CO2 capture systems in thermal power plants and CO2 hydrogenation energy efficiency measurement, representing a forward-looking arrangement for this emerging technology.
Broader Carbon Market Context
The catalog update comes as China’s carbon market undergoes significant expansion. The national carbon emissions trading market, launched in July 2021 with power generation coverage, expanded in March 2025 to include steel, cement, and aluminum smelting. According to Science and Technology Daily, the market is now preparing to extend further to petrochemical and chemical industries, which would bring coverage to approximately 80% of national CO2 emissions. Cumulative trading volume has exceeded 9.3 billion tons.
This rapid expansion places greater demands on measurement accuracy. As Caixin reported, compared to steel, cement, and aluminum smelting, the petrochemical and chemical industries have longer supply chains, more diverse product categories, and complex production processes, making carbon measurement particularly challenging.
Implications and Outlook
The improved metrology framework will provide authoritative and unified technical guidance for metrology institutions at all levels, key emission enterprises, and implementing entities of voluntary greenhouse gas reduction projects. As stated in the catalog’s accompanying documentation, this ensures “from the source that carbon emission data is true, accurate, and traceable.”
The three departments have committed to accelerating publicity, interpretation, and training for the 2026 Edition Catalog to promote implementation of the various metrology technical measures. This supports China’s broader commitment to achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.
For Chinese industries, particularly steel and cement exporters facing EU CBAM requirements, the enhanced measurement standards provide the technical foundation needed for accurate carbon accounting and compliance. The catalog’s expansion into CCUS and new energy measurement capabilities also signals China’s strategic positioning in emerging low-carbon technologies, laying the groundwork for more sophisticated carbon management across the economy.
As the national carbon market continues to broaden its coverage and international carbon trade mechanisms evolve, the precision and reliability of carbon measurement will remain central to China’s climate strategy. The 2026 Edition Catalog represents a critical infrastructure investment in the country’s green transition.