China will not attempt to accomplish its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals "in one battle," the country's top leadership said on Friday in a key annual meeting to chart its 2022 economic plan.

Solar panels are installed in Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, November 18, 2021. /CFP

The Central Economic Work Conference, held in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday, said China is determined to push cuts in carbon emissions as it drives the country's high-quality development. But it also said a safe and reliable supply of new energy is a precondition for the country to gradually replace use of traditional energy, according to a statement.

The wording is in contrast with that of last year, when the annual economic meeting emphasized to "push an earlier peaking of coal consumption, and drastically develop new energy." That urgency came along with China's pledge to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The country has since adopted a series of policies, measures and actions to push forward carbon emission reduction despite economic challenges.

However, at the beginning of this winter, a shortage of power was reported in many places in northern China, as a result of soaring prices of coal and supply shortage. The authorities had to mobilize large coal producers to go all out to ramp up supply to ensure factories and even neighborhoods in some cities won't be affected by the power outages.

The new statement on Friday stressed that coal is still the key power source in China, but the country needs to utilize energy supply more efficiently, while increasing its capability in new energy consumption.

The meeting also said the consumption of newly added renewable energy and raw materials will not be included in the total consumption cap, an effort to further reduce emissions and curb pollution.

The country has been tightening control over greenhouse gas emissions. It implemented measures such as reining in greenhouse gas emissions in key industries, promoting green and low-carbon technologies in urban and rural construction projects, developing a green and low-carbon transportation system, and reducing other non-carbon dioxide emissions.

In July, the long-awaited National Carbon Emissions Trading Market was officially launched, a significant move to help guiding heavy polluters to cut down emissions.(Credit: news.cgtn.com)