碳资产或成为人民币国际化的“新资产锚”丨杨涛专栏

Core Viewpoint - The construction of China's carbon market is accelerating, with the government aiming to create a more effective, vibrant, and internationally influential carbon market to support carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals [1] Group 1: Carbon Market Development - China's carbon market consists of three parts: the national carbon market launched in July 2021, covering over 2,200 key emission units in the power sector, with a cumulative trading volume of 680 million tons and a total transaction value of 47.41 billion yuan as of August 2025 [2] - The voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction trading market (CCER) started in January 2024, with a cumulative certified voluntary reduction of 2.49 million tons and a transaction value of 210 million yuan as of August 2025 [2] - Local carbon markets have been piloted since 2011 in various regions, allowing non-national market sectors to trade and manage emissions [2] Group 2: Carbon Financial Market - The carbon financial market includes financing, trading, and support tools, with carbon bonds being the most significant financial instrument, totaling 805.739 billion yuan issued from 2021 to the end of 2024 to support green and low-carbon transitions [2] - Trading tools in the carbon market include carbon futures, options, forwards, swaps, and loans, while support tools encompass carbon indices, insurance, and funds [2] Group 3: Challenges and Development Strategies - Despite significant achievements, the national carbon market faces challenges such as insufficient industry inclusion, low market liquidity, and the need for improved price formation mechanisms [3] - The government has proposed new development strategies to address these challenges, emphasizing coordinated development among the national carbon market, CCER, and local markets, as well as enhancing market vitality through product diversification and regulatory improvements [3] - Key areas for strengthening include management systems, carbon emission accounting, and data quality oversight [3] Group 4: Implementation and International Cooperation - The government has outlined key directions for implementation, including improving the national carbon market's clearing mechanism and enhancing international cooperation [4] - The existing clearing model needs adaptation to meet the demands of the rapidly developing carbon market and financial sector [4] - There is significant potential for increasing the internationalization of China's carbon market, which is crucial for supporting the internationalization of the renminbi and financial openness [4]