The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched initiatives to establish national-level zero-carbon factories and zero-carbon computing infrastructure.

To implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and to fulfill the requirements outlined in the “Guiding Opinions on Launching Zero-Carbon Factory Construction,” the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued the “Notice on Organizing and Carrying Out National-Level Zero-Carbon Factory Construction” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”), thereby initiating the construction of national-level zero-carbon factories (including zero-carbon computing facilities, hereinafter the same).

The Notice sets forth specific arrangements for national-level zero-carbon factory construction, covering basic requirements, application criteria, organizational implementation, and an attached document titled “National-Level Zero-Carbon Factory Construction Evaluation Index System and Indicator Explanations (Trial).” First, it clarifies the application requirements: manufacturing enterprises and computing facilities that possess a certain foundation for construction, clear objectives, well-defined implementation pathways, and commit to achieving their set goals within the prescribed timeframe will be preferentially included in the national-level zero-carbon factory list. Three core indicators—carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption, the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption, and the share of physical electricity consumption from non-fossil sources—are established. Applying entities must meet the basic requirements for these core indicators and pledge to achieve the corresponding targets during the construction period (no later than 2030). Second, the notice specifies the construction process: zero-carbon factory development emphasizes technology, construction, and practical results rather than one-time evaluation and certification. Entities listed as national-level zero-carbon factories are required to conduct self-assessments against annual targets and key tasks outlined in their construction plans, submitting reports regularly. Provincial industrial and information technology authorities should strengthen guidance and oversight over listed entities, establishing a routine tracking mechanism. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will carry out random inspections and verifications of participating units, organizing acceptance assessments according to the principle of “acceptance upon maturity.” Only those passing the assessment will officially become national-level zero-carbon factories. Third, the notice defines the evaluation index system, which comprises both core and guiding indicators. Core indicators represent fundamental, decisive, and constraining factors for zero-carbon factory construction. In addition, four categories of eight guiding indicators—process decarbonization, synergistic carbon reduction, intelligent carbon control, carbon offsetting, and information disclosure—are introduced to systematically encourage enterprises to continuously improve energy conservation, carbon reduction, and digital energy–carbon management.

Going forward, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will, in accordance with the Notice’s requirements, foster the development of national-level zero-carbon factories, promoting the establishment of an industrial ecosystem encompassing energy supply, technological R&D, standard-setting, and financial support, thereby enhancing the industry’s low-carbon competitive edge.

Notice on Organizing and Carrying Out National-Level Zero-Carbon Factory Construction

MIIT Energy Conservation Letter [2026] No. 334

To the Industrial and Information Technology Authorities of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, separately planned cities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

In order to implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and to comply with the relevant requirements of the “Guiding Opinions on Launching Zero-Carbon Factory Construction” (MIIT Joint Energy Conservation [2026] No. 13), we hereby organize the construction of national-level zero-carbon factories (including zero-carbon computing facilities, hereinafter the same). Relevant matters are notified as follows:

I. Basic Requirements

Zero-carbon factory construction refers to the continuous reduction of CO₂ emissions within defined boundaries through innovative technologies, structural adjustments, and optimized management, gradually approaching near-zero levels. In line with phased and tiered cultivation requirements, manufacturing enterprises and computing facilities that demonstrate a solid foundation, clear objectives, well-defined implementation paths, and a commitment to achieving their goals within the stipulated timeframe will be preferentially selected for inclusion in the national-level zero-carbon factory list, serving as benchmarks and leading examples.

II. Application Criteria

Manufacturing enterprises and computing facilities participating in the application (hereinafter collectively referred to as “applying entities”) must meet the following conditions:

(1) Manufacturing enterprises must have independent legal status or be independently accounted units treated as legal entities. Large-scale industrial enterprises engaged in actual production, with annual total energy consumption no less than 1,000 tons of standard coal (with electricity converted at equivalent value), and already listed as National Green Factories, are eligible. Their main products must achieve energy consumption levels equal to or better than the mandatory Level 1 national energy efficiency standards for their respective industries (advanced values) and the benchmark levels specified in the “Energy Efficiency Benchmark and Baseline Levels for Key Industrial Sectors”; if such standards or requirements do not apply, they must reach industry-leading levels.

(2) Computing facility owners must have independent legal status, clear ownership of computing facilities, distinct and complete physical boundaries, independent power distribution and cooling systems, and a scale of no fewer than 3,000 standard racks (this requirement does not apply to AI computing centers). They must also achieve an energy efficiency rating of Level 2 or above as defined in the “Data Center Energy Efficiency Limit Values and Efficiency Grades” (GB 40879—2021), and be listed as National Green Computing Facilities (formerly National Green Data Centers).

(3) Applicants must meet the basic requirements for the following core indicators (detailed explanations provided in Attachment 1) and commit to fulfilling the annual targets for these core indicators as set out in their construction plans, ensuring that by the end of the construction period (no later than 2030) they will have achieved the target levels. The core indicators are as follows:

1. Carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption: the basic requirement is no more than 1.8 tons of CO₂ per ton of standard coal; the target requirement is no more than 0.2 tons of CO₂ per ton of standard coal.

2. Proportion of non-fossil energy consumption: the basic requirement is no less than 30%; the target requirement is no less than 95%.

3. Share of physical electricity consumption from non-fossil sources: the basic requirement is no less than 10% (computing facilities are exempt from this requirement); the target requirement is no less than 35%. This indicator applies to applicants with annual electricity consumption exceeding 5 million kWh.

(4) A carbon emission accounting system must be established, with data adhering to principles of measurability, reportability, and verifiability, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and reliability.

(5) A clear strategy and measures for energy conservation and carbon reduction must be in place, along with comprehensive management systems for quality, environment, energy, occupational health and safety, all of which should be robust and well-maintained, reflecting sound operational performance.

(6) Over the past three years, applicants must not have experienced any major or higher-level incidents involving safety (including cybersecurity, data security, and production safety), quality, or environmental pollution; nor must they have engaged in monopolistic practices prohibited under the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China; nor must they have been found to have serious issues during inspections conducted by the State Council or relevant departments; nor must they have been placed on industrial energy-saving inspection and rectification lists without completing required corrections; nor must they have been listed on telecommunications business misconduct or dishonesty lists; nor must they have received significant administrative penalties from competent authorities; nor must they have been designated as discredited persons subject to enforcement; nor must they have been legally determined by effective court documents to bear liability arising from disputes over patent rights, trademark rights, copyright, ownership, or usage rights.

III. Organizational Implementation

(1) Application Organization: Each provincial industrial and information technology authority shall organize applying entities, on a voluntary basis, to submit application materials via the Industrial Energy Conservation and Green Development Management Platform (

Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

July 13, 2026