The head of the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered questions from reporters on issues related to the Action Plan for Methane Emission Control

　　Q: Please give us a brief background on the introduction of the Methane Plan.

　　Answer:As the world's second largest greenhouse gas, methane has high warming potential and short lifespan, mainly from coal, oil and gas production, agriculture and waste treatment. China attaches great importance to methane emission control, and in 2007, China formulated the "China National Plan for Climate Change", which put forward relevant requirements for methane emission control. The 12th and 13th Five-Year Plan work plans for controlling greenhouse gas emissions both propose measures to control non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases such as methane. The 14th Five-Year Plan and the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Completely, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Concept and Doing a Good Job in Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality all set out requirements for methane control.

　　Since September 2020, President Xi Jinping has stated on a number of major international occasions that China will strengthen the control of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases such as methane. The preparation and release of the Methane Plan is an important measure to implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, an inherent requirement to promote China's high-quality development and promote the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, an independent action for China to actively respond to climate change, and a positive contribution to global climate governance.

　　Q: What are the main principles behind the preparation of the Methane Programme?

　　Answer:First, adhere to overall planning and coordination. Overall planning, multiple measures at the same time, adhere to the system concept, strengthen resource utilization and source control.

　　The second is to insist on laying a solid foundation. Strengthen the capacity of statistical accounting, monitoring and supervision, strengthen the construction of laws and regulations, and promote technological innovation and application.

　　The third is to adhere to classified policies. Follow the law of methane emissions, take into account the differences in different fields and different locations, implement policies by category, and explore on a pilot basis.

　　Fourth, adhere to prudence and order. Fully consider the actual affordability of the industry, step by step, first easy and then difficult.

　　Fifth, insist on preventing risks. Strengthen risk awareness, and handle the relationship between methane emission control and energy security, food security, industrial and supply chain security, and safe production.

　　Q: What are the main contents of the Methane Plan?

　　Answer:The Methane Plan consists of four parts: the current situation, overall requirements, key tasks, and organization and implementation.

　　The first part is the situation facing methane emission control. It mainly summarizes the significance of methane emission control and the status quo of related work.

　　The second part is the general requirements. The main purpose is to clarify the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, adhere to the five basic principles of overall coordination, solid foundation, classified policies, prudent and orderly, and risk prevention, and put forward the goals of methane emission control in key areas during the "14th Five-Year Plan" and "15th Five-Year Plan" period.

　　The third part is the eight key tasks of methane emission control. It mainly involves strengthening the construction of methane emission monitoring, accounting, reporting and verification systems, promoting methane emission control in the energy sector, promoting methane emission control in the agricultural sector, strengthening methane emission control in garbage and sewage treatment, strengthening the coordinated control of pollutants and methane, strengthening technological innovation and methane emission control supervision, accelerating the construction of a system of regulations, standards and policies, strengthening global methane governance and cooperation, and proposing implementation measures for methane emission control from different fields and different levels.

　　The fourth part is the organization and implementation of the Methane Programme. It focuses on four supporting and safeguard measures, including strengthening overall planning and coordination, strengthening the implementation of responsibilities, strengthening publicity and training, and improving evaluation and supervision.

　　Q: How to promote the implementation of the Methane Plan?

　　Answer:The Methane Plan will be organized and implemented in accordance with the principle of "clear rights and responsibilities, division of labor and cooperation".

　　The first is to strengthen overall planning and coordination. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with relevant departments, will establish a working mechanism for coordination and cooperation, organize the implementation of the Methane Plan, and coordinate and solve major problems encountered in its implementation.

　　The second is to strengthen the implementation of responsibilities. Clarify the division of tasks, carry out methane emission control work in a steady and orderly manner, and ensure that various key measures are effective.

　　The third is to strengthen publicity and training. Popularize the knowledge of methane emission inventory compilation, carry out training, train professional personnel, and carry out the promotion of typical experience and practices of methane emission control.

　　In the next step, we will organize the implementation of the Methane Plan, continuously consolidate basic capabilities, strengthen methane emission management and control, handle the relationship between methane control and energy security, food security, industrial and supply chain security and people's livelihood, actively promote the implementation of methane control tasks and measures in key areas, promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth, and make China's contribution to actively responding to global climate change.