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and electronics, the government aims to identify high-carbon-emission points in industrial production and
distribution. These insights allow businesses to benchmark against both domestic and international low-
carbon standards, driving technological process reforms, strengthening energy-saving and carbon-reducing
management, and enhancing the overall greening transformation of upstream and downstream enterprises.
China's research team has developed the Carbon Emission Factors Database (CEADs), which is a world-
leading database that integrates both domestic and international standard databases, commercialized
databases, enterprise research data, and literature. This database focuses on accumulating China's localized
data, offering a unified, full-caliber, and verifiable carbon accounting platform for national, regional, and
urban levels. Furthermore, as part of the Chinese government's plan, a national greenhouse gas emission
factor database is expected to be largely completed by 2025 and will be regularly updated. This database will
provide benchmark data for localities and enterprises, supporting more consistent and comparable carbon
accounting for businesses and products. Deloitte China has developed the EEIO Carbon Footprint Factor
Database, based on economic value, which covers the three major sectors of the national economy. This
database is subdivided into 153 sub-industries and provides corresponding emission factors for all
industries and products. It is based on official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics and is
characterized by its reliability, broad coverage of all industrial sectors, in-depth analytical functions, and
diverse application scenarios. Secondly, the Chinese government is adapting to new international trade
rules. In response to global carbon reduction trends, particularly in Europe and the United States, China has
[6]
introduced a series of regulations and policies related to product carbon footprints . These measures aim to
enhance the low-carbon competitiveness of domestic enterprises. The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanism (CBAM) restricts the import of carbon-intensive products to prevent these goods from
undermining the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. The first phase of CBAM applies to
imports of iron, steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen, as well as indirect emissions
under certain conditions. This mechanism sets higher requirements for the carbon footprint accounting of
relevant products in China. China has also established carbon emissions trading markets in various regions,
using market mechanisms to control greenhouse gas emissions and promote corporate emissions
reductions. Additionally, the country has implemented the Interim Regulations on the Administration of
Carbon Emission Trading to provide a regulatory framework for the carbon market, clarifying key aspects
of carbon emissions trading and related activities, as well as the legal responsibilities of all stakeholders.
Lastly, China is focused on cultivating green and low-carbon industrial clusters. As the global push for
carbon neutrality intensifies, leading enterprises in various industries are strengthening their own emissions
reductions. They are also developing industry-specific carbon footprint accounting rules, implementing
green and low-carbon procurement strategies across supply chains, and establishing low-carbon industrial
clusters. These clusters are driven by leading enterprises, spearheading the transformation to low-carbon
[7]
practices . Companies are increasingly releasing specialized ESG reports to highlight their commitment to
corporate social responsibility and improve their brand image. More products are now obtaining low-
carbon certifications to meet market demand and consumer preference for environmentally friendly
products.
Shanghai, as an outward-oriented city benchmarked against international metropolises such as New York,
London, Paris, and Tokyo, is an important urban sample in China. As the window to the Chinese economy,
Shanghai is a key model for China's low-carbon economic transformation with its open economy, robust
financial services, advanced manufacturing, and vibrant international trade. With a population exceeding
25 million, Shanghai serves as a key economic and shipping hub. In 2023, the city’s GDP reached
4.72 trillion yuan, the total financial market transactions surpassed 330 trillion yuan, the container
throughput of the Port of Shanghai hit 49.158 million TEUs, and the annual electricity consumption totaled
184.9 billion kilowatt-hours. The city boasts well-established manufacturing industries, including iron and
steel, chemicals, and automobile manufacturing. Simultaneously, it is accelerating the growth of strategic

