The objective of highest priority of the plan is economic development, aiming for an average annual increase in GDP of 6.5-7%. However, the plan also addresses a series of environmental issues, setting targets for GHG emissions, air pollution, energy and water consumption, as well as an update and removal of old technologies and industries.
Reduce carbon intensity by 18% by 2020, as compared to 2015. The Plan assigns the responsibility of developing the national carbon trading scheme, to be launched in 2018, to the Government. Coal is capped at 5 billion metric tons per year in 2020.
"increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy to 15 percent by 2020; ban commercial logging in natural forests." (http://www.apcoworldwide.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/Thought-Leadership/13-five-year-plan-think-piece.pdf?sfvrsn=2) It also aims to increase forest coverage to 23.04% (http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/law/13th-five-year-plan/)
One of the aims of the plan with regard to air pollution is to maintain acceptable air quality levels for 80% of the year by 2020. As an action towards achieving air quality improvements, China aims to remove 4 million high-emissions vehicles that are currently on the roads. Subsidies and tax breaks to support new technologies are already in place and will continue to be.
Aims to lift 70 million people out of poverty by 2020 (all population currently below the poverty line of annual income 2300 yuan per year) (http://www.apcoworldwide.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/Thought-Leadership/13-five-year-plan-think-piece.pdf?sfvrsn=2)
"Reduction of water consumption by 35% by 2020 as compared with 2013 (which is consistent with the target in the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan)" (http://www.kwm.com/en/au/knowledge/insights/china-13th-5-year-plan-environment-sustainability-initiatives-20160414)
Aims to have 15% energy intensity reduction in 2020 compared to 2015.
According to WRI (2016) the included carbon intensity target will decrease by almost 50% by 2020 compared to 2005.
Ratified by National People's Congress in March 2016 (https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Research/The%2013th%20Five-Year%20Plan.pdf) IEA/IRENA Global Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database © OECD/IEA and IRENA, [November 2020]