Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and eight other departments issued the "Guiding Catalogue for Green and Low-Carbon Transition Industries (2024 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Catalogue"). The Catalogue was revised and formed on the basis of the "Guiding Catalogue for Green Industries (2019 Edition)" in light of the new situation, new tasks and new requirements of green development. It defines the detailed sub-categories and specific connotations of key green and low-carbon transition industries such as energy-saving and carbon-reduction industries and environmental protection industries, providing a basis for local governments and departments to formulate and improve relevant industrial support policies, and providing support for fostering and strengthening new drivers of green development and accelerating the green transformation of development modes.

　　Compared with the "Guiding Catalogue for Green Industries (2019 Edition)", the Catalogue mainly features the following four changes:

　　First, the name of the catalogue was adjusted to fully implement the "dual carbon" strategy. The name was changed from "Guiding Catalogue for Green Industries" to "Guiding Catalogue for Green and Low-Carbon Transition Industries", incorporating industries related to low-carbon transition and better aligning with green finance and transition finance work, fully reflecting the orientation of the "dual carbon" efforts.

　　Second, the catalogue structure was optimized to better clarify industrial boundaries. In the "Guiding Catalogue for Green Industries (2019 Edition)", both first-level categories—energy-saving and environmental protection industries and cleaner production industries—contained content on pollution control and resource recycling. The Catalogue adjusts these two first-level categories into three first-level categories: energy-saving and carbon-reduction industries, environmental protection industries, and resource recycling industries, with corresponding adjustments to the relevant second-level and third-level categories, making industrial boundaries clearer.

　　Third, the scope of coverage was expanded with the addition of key emerging industries. In accordance with the development trends and characteristics of green and low-carbon transition industries, a number of emerging key green and low-carbon transition industries have been added, including greenhouse gas control, green and low-carbon transition of key industrial sectors, green logistics, information infrastructure, R&D, certification and promotion of green technology products, treatment of new pollutants, and equipment manufacturing for the entire hydrogen energy chain of "production, storage, transportation and use", so as to guide policies and resources to support the sound development of relevant industries.

　　Fourth, the industrial connotations were clarified and regulatory and policy requirements strengthened. In accordance with the actual state of industrial development, the explanatory content of each entry in the Catalogue has been updated and improved, clarifying the specific connotations of various industries and the requirements of laws, regulations, policies and standards, strengthening the guidance of advanced standards, preventing blind investment and low-level redundant construction, and promoting higher-level and higher-quality development of relevant industries.

　　The 10 departments proposed that local governments and departments may, in accordance with the development priorities of their respective regions and fields and on the basis of the Catalogue, introduce and improve relevant policy measures, give encouragement and support to all links including production, circulation and consumption, and create a favorable environment for the development of relevant industries.

　　Relevant departments may, on the basis of the Catalogue and in accordance with actual work needs, formulate and revise detailed catalogues, sub-catalogues or expanded catalogues, so as to improve the operability of the Catalogue and guide all sectors of society to better support the development of relevant industries.

　　Local governments and departments shall, in light of actual conditions, ensure proper alignment between the Catalogue and relevant support policies. For projects that had already commenced construction before the Catalogue was issued and implemented, the determination of industry category may still be carried out in accordance with the "Guiding Catalogue for Green Industries (2019 Edition)"; for projects that had completed approval, verification or filing but had not commenced construction when the Catalogue was issued and implemented, the determination of industry category may be carried out at their own choice in accordance with the "Guiding Catalogue for Green Industries (2019 Edition)" or the Catalogue.

　　Local governments and departments shall further strengthen international and domestic exchanges, promote experience and practices in supporting the development of relevant industries, advance international cooperation on green standards, and gradually establish a mutual recognition mechanism between the Catalogue and relevant international green standards.

　　Financial institutions are encouraged, on the basis of compliance with laws and regulations, controllable risks and commercial sustainability, and in accordance with market-oriented and law-based principles, to provide financial support for domestic projects or activities that meet the requirements of the Catalogue, as well as for projects or activities of enterprises in overseas regions such as countries jointly building the "Belt and Road".

　　The National Development and Reform Commission will, together with relevant departments, adjust and revise the Catalogue in due course in accordance with major tasks of ecological civilization construction, progress in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, resource and environmental conditions, scientific and technological progress, and other circumstances.