On August 16, 2024, the China Electronics Standardization Association (CESA) issued notice to call for comment on 2 sector standards on product carbon footprint, namely Greenhouse gases—Methods and Requirements for quantifying the carbon footprint—server and Greenhouse gases—Methods and Requirements for quantifying the carbon footprint—Storage equipment (hereinafter referred to as “the Two Standards”). The comment-seeking period will end on September 12, 2024. 

The key takeaway of the Two Standards is summarized as below:

-   Both standards shared very similar structure, where they both contain 9 chapters and 5 annexes that specify the objective, scope, influence evaluation, result explanation and templates for the quantification.

-   Both standard drafts listed ISO 14026 Environmental labels and declarations - Principles, requirements and guidelines for communication of footprint information in its normative references.

-   Three other international documents are listed in the reference for the Two standards, which are: ISO 14067: 2018 Greenhouse gases-Carbon footprint of products-Requirements and guidelines for quantification, PAS 2050: 2011 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services, and IPCC. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But no indication of any direct adoption of international standards.

Foreign stakeholders and MNCs are advised to be aware that, China’s national standard system on carbon footprint of greenhouse gases is basically managed by SAC/TC548 (carbon management), and if the standard would relate with a specific sector, then the corresponding SAC/TC will join efforts with SAC/TC548 for the formulation. On sector and association level, the situation varies between different sectors. But in a whole, the carbon footprint standards would be somehow important under the bigger picture where the country is thriving for achieving its carbon peak and carbon neutrality commitment, even if for association standards. Especially in the context that national standardization policies such as the National Standardization Outline etc., have emphasized the importance of association standards, foreign stakeholders are advised to observe the updates of these two standards in case of any potential compliance impact.

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