Core Viewpoint - The national carbon market in China is expanding its coverage to include more industries, with significant policy advancements in 2023 aimed at enhancing carbon emissions trading and promoting low-carbon technologies [1][2]. Group 1: Carbon Market Expansion - The national carbon emissions trading market has officially expanded to include the steel, cement, and aluminum industries, following the power generation sector [1][2]. - The government aims to gradually include key products from the petrochemical, chemical, paper, and aviation industries into the carbon market starting in 2026 [1][2]. - The expansion follows a "mature first, include first" principle, with scientific assessments submitted to the State Council for approval [1][2]. Group 2: Industry-Specific Insights - The cement industry was prioritized for inclusion due to its mature production processes and data foundation, while the aluminum smelting sector has a relatively low direct carbon emission impact [2]. - Approximately 730 steel enterprises are engaged in annual carbon emissions accounting, with long-process steel companies accounting for 90% of total emissions in the sector [2]. - The chemical industry presents complexities in product inclusion due to the variety of products and their respective emissions profiles, with over 200 million tons of key products currently reported [3]. Group 3: Paper Industry Dynamics - The paper industry, while not yet included in the carbon market, has a significant relationship with carbon emissions due to its energy consumption patterns, with coal accounting for 75% of its energy use [4]. - The industry utilizes self-owned power plants, which are already included in the carbon market, leading to potential challenges in accounting for emissions from self-generated steam [5]. - Opportunities for the paper industry include enhancing energy efficiency and utilizing biomass in self-owned power plants, which can contribute to carbon reduction efforts [6][7]. Group 4: CCER Mechanism and Development - The CCER (China Certified Emission Reduction) mechanism currently allows for a 5% offset in the carbon market, with an estimated demand of approximately 400 million tons post-expansion [9][10]. - The existing CCER methodologies cover limited sectors, necessitating the development of additional methodologies to meet the growing demand for carbon credits [9][10]. - Expanding methodologies to include waste treatment and other sectors can facilitate low-carbon transitions and enhance the overall effectiveness of the carbon market [10].