To fully implement the strategic decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, advance the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for Civil Aviation Development, continue to promote the green and low-carbon transformation of civil aviation, and coordinate high-quality development with high-level protection, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has released the Implementation Plan for the Green Development of Civil Aviation in the 15th Five-Year Plan Period (hereinafter referred to as the Implementation Plan).

The Implementation Plan emphasizes that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the civil aviation industry will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, earnestly implement the arrangements of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and fully, accurately and comprehensively apply the new development philosophy. With carbon peaking and carbon neutrality as the strategic driver, the industry will adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, uphold the principle of an effective market and a well-functioning government, follow a goal-oriented and coordinated approach, advance step by step while guarding against risks, and balance domestic and international efforts for openness and mutual benefit. With enhancing the momentum for green development as the main thread, the industry will focus on three key areas: the safe and efficient utilization of clean and low-carbon energy, the development and implementation of the aviation carbon market, and the improvement of operational efficiency. Supported by technological innovation and industrial synergy, and safeguarded by a sound institutional framework, the industry will deepen the development of a green, low-carbon and circular civil aviation system, and coordinate efforts in carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion and growth, thereby providing strong support for building a world-class civil aviation industry.

The Implementation Plan specifies that by 2030, breakthrough progress will be made in the green and low-carbon transformation of civil aviation. A dual-control system for total carbon emissions and emission intensity will be initially established. The energy mix will be further optimized, and the synergy between carbon reduction and pollution control will be significantly enhanced. Carbon dioxide emissions per tonne-kilometre of air transport and per unit passenger throughput at airports will decrease by 4% and 15% respectively compared with the 14th Five-Year Plan period, maintaining a leading position globally.

The Implementation Plan states that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, focusing on the above goals, the civil aviation industry will deploy seven major tasks to deepen the green and low-carbon transformation. First, systematically improve the green civil aviation governance system. The industry will continuously refine standards and norms, improve policies and institutions, optimize the working mechanism, and strengthen supervision and management, building a governance structure with clear responsibilities and smooth operation to raise green civil aviation governance to a more systematic, standardized and well-regulated level. Second, accelerate the optimization of the civil aviation energy mix. The industry will continue to enhance the competitive advantage of the sustainable aviation fuel industry, steadily advance the application of sustainable aviation fuel, press ahead with the battle for blue skies, strengthen the development and utilization of renewable energy at airports, and accelerate the building of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient civil aviation energy system. Third, steadily and orderly advance the development of the aviation carbon market. The industry will establish a sound management system for aviation's participation in the national carbon emissions trading market that facilitates unified supervision, clarifies responsibilities and ensures efficient operation, coordinate the development of the international aviation carbon market, and give full play to the incentive and constraint role of market mechanisms in civil aviation carbon reduction. Fourth, fully implement the conservation strategy. On the premise of ensuring safety and service quality, the industry will continuously improve flight fuel efficiency, strengthen the economical and intensive use of airport resources, vigorously develop the circular economy, accelerate the building of conservation-oriented government agencies, and speed up the green and low-carbon transformation of the industry's development model. Fifth, deepen environmental pollution prevention and control. The industry will carry out aircraft noise pollution prevention and control in a law-based, scientific and targeted manner, improve the treatment of solid waste and wastewater at airports, promote harmonious coexistence between civil aviation and the ecological environment, and continuously enhance the level of environmental pollution prevention and control. Sixth, comprehensively enhance the scientific and technological innovation capacity for green civil aviation. Focusing on the strategic needs of the green and low-carbon transformation, the industry will establish a sound technical support system and improve the talent cultivation system for green civil aviation, promote the integrated development of education, science and technology and talent cultivation, and provide strong scientific and technological support and talent guarantees. Seventh, deepen international cooperation on green and low-carbon civil aviation. Adhering to the principle of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, the industry will actively participate in international aviation climate change governance, promote the building of a Green Air Silk Road, and continuously enhance China's voice and influence in the field of international civil aviation green development.