Progress and Recommendations on Synergistic Control Policies for Methane and Pollutant Emissions in China
1 Abstract
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has entered a critical stage of ecological civilization construction, characterized by prioritizing carbon reduction, promoting synergistic effects between pollution control and carbon mitigation, advancing a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, and achieving a qualitative improvement in environmental quality. To date, both research and policy practice have largely focused on the synergy between carbon dioxide and conventional air pollutants, while comparatively limited attention has been given to the coordinated control of methane and other non-CO2greenhouse gases with air pollutants.
This study analyzes the emission characteristics and synergistic relationships of methane and air pollutants across key sectors, including energy production, agricultural activities, and waste management. The progress of China’s policies on the synergistic control of methane and air pollutant emissions is systematically reviewed, and the main challenges hindering effective coordination are identified. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are proposed, emphasizing the need to improve the institutional framework for synergistic control, strengthen technological innovation, and encourage practical applications. These measures are intended to promote coordinated efforts among government agencies, research institutions, and enterprises, providing essential support for enhancing the synergistic control of methane and air pollutant emissions in China.
2 Main Research Findings
(1) In the energy sector, methane emissions from oil and gas systems show a high degree of homology with VOC emissions. In the agricultural sector, methane emissions from animal manure management, as well as from the waste treatment sector, are emissions generated during pollution control processes. Therefore, there is a solid foundation for synergistic control between methane and pollutant emissions in key sectors (see Table 1).
Table 1 Methane emission sources and major atmospheric pollutants involved
(2) Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, policies related to environmental protection have increasingly focused on the synergistic control of methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, a series of documents have been issued, including the "Work Plan for Promoting Synergistic Carbon Emission Reduction in the Environmental Impact Assessment and Pollutant Discharge Permit Fields," the "Notice on Carrying Out Pilot Carbon Emission Environmental Impact Assessment for Key Industry Construction Projects," and the "Opinions on Further Optimizing Environmental Impact Assessment Work." These documents have helped integrate methane emissions into the environmental impact assessment system (see Figure 1). Additionally, the "Methane Emissions Control Action Plan" has also identified the strengthening of synergistic control of pollutants and methane as one of its key tasks (see Figure 2).
Fig.2 Environmental impact assessment policies involved methane emissions
(3) Currently, the synergistic control of methane and pollutants still faces numerous challenges. At a general level, the institutional foundation for the coordinated control of methane and pollutant emissions remains weak. At the sector-specific level, in coal mining, there is a lack of coordinated focus on both methane (CH4) reduction through gas utilization and NOx emission control. In rice cultivation, the balance between carbon sequestration and the reduction of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions urgently needs to be strengthened. In livestock manure management, there is insufficient consideration of methane reduction, and biogas recovery and utilization remain inadequate. In solid waste disposal, changes in treatment methods have brought new challenges for methane emission control.
Fig.3 Tasks related to coordinated control of pollutants and methane in the Methane Emissions Control Action Plan
3 Policy Recommendations
While significant progress has been made in both scientific research and policy development regarding the synergistic control of methane and pollutants, challenges still remain, such as unclear synergistic mechanisms, undefined technical pathways, and insufficient innovation in integrating policy standards. Based on the progress of methane and pollutant synergistic control policies and the key challenges faced in strengthening coordination, this study offers the following recommendations to drive coordinated efforts from governments, research institutions, and enterprises, enhance synergistic control of methane and pollutants, and promote overall synergistic benefits.
(1) Improve the institutional framework for synergistic control of methane and pollutants. Amend and revise environmental protection and climate change legislation to define the legal status of methane and other greenhouse gases, and clarify the requirements for synergistic control. Strengthen the planning and coordination of methane reduction and pollution prevention efforts, integrating the synergistic control of methane and pollutants into the revision process of ecological and environmental policy standards. Fully utilize existing ecological and environmental regulations, standards, and policies, and further explore the incorporation of methane emission control into environmental impact assessments, industry-specific pollutant discharge standards, control technology standards, and monitoring and regulation systems. Establish an integrated governance system that promotes both pollutant and methane emission control. Consider greenhouse gas reduction and ecological protection requirements when formulating fiscal subsidies, tax incentives, and pricing policies, and create an economic incentive mechanism based on the comprehensive benefits of pollution reduction and carbon mitigation.
(2) Strengthen technological innovation for synergistic control of methane and pollutants. The synergistic control of methane and pollutants still faces challenges, such as unclear mechanisms and undefined pathways, especially in the fields of agricultural activities and waste treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to guide and incentivize research institutions and innovative teams to strengthen research on the interaction mechanisms and control technologies for methane and pollutants in key sectors. Explore rice cultivation and management models that provide optimal comprehensive benefits for carbon reduction, pollution control, and ecological enhancement. Develop low-emission, highly efficient treatment technologies for various regions and types of livestock manure, household waste, and sewage.
(3) Encourage the practical application of synergistic control technologies. Incorporate effective synergistic control technologies for methane and pollutants into relevant technical specifications and recommended technology directories for pollution control, green low-carbon practices, and clean production. Focus on sectors with a strong homology between methane and pollutant emissions, such as oil and gas systems, livestock farming, solid waste treatment, and sewage treatment, where there is a solid foundation for synergistic control. Accelerate the research and development of technical guidelines for synergistic control of pollutants and methane in key sectors to provide technical support for enterprises in strengthening methane and pollutant control. Leverage existing pollution reduction and carbon mitigation pilot programs, low-carbon initiatives, and other types of demonstration projects to support the implementation of diverse engineering and management model innovations for synergistic control of methane and pollutants in key sectors.
Citation Format:
Xie Ruili, Liu Bohan, Huang Zihan, et al. Progress and Recommendations on Synergistic Control Policies for Methane and Pollutant Emissions in China [J]. Environmental Pollution and Prevention, 2025, 47(11): 128-136.
