"Double Carbon" Goals Revisited: Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities

Peak carbon is a phased feature of multiple peaks and fluctuating declines, and is not necessarily a sign of carbon neutrality. China can only achieve carbon neutrality through the orderly decline of high-carbon fossil energy sources and the rapid continuous rise of zero-carbon renewable energy sources, so that non-fossil energy sources, mainly renewable energy sources, will account for more than 80% of the energy consumption structure, which must lead to a revolutionary breakthrough in zero-carbon energy sources, including a revolution in the production of zero-carbon energy sources, and that the goals of sustainable development, such as employment, growth, security, and the environment, will be realized. This revolutionary breakthrough in zero-carbon energy, including a zero-carbon energy production revolution, will promote employment, growth, security, the environment, and help to realize other sustainable development goals; thus a zero-carbon energy consumption revolution can enhance people's well-being, regional synergy and upgrade the development paradigm. At the same time, the net-zero carbon path of carbon removal will bring about a weaker economic and social development, with a greater potential risk, and can only play a supporting role. To achieve the "double carbon" goals, China needs to abandon her carbon thinking habit, fully release the growth momentum of zero-carbon transformation, and optimize the integration of multiple pathways in order to move steadily towards carbon neutrality.