Decarbonizing China's Buildings to Achieve Global Climate Goals: A Life-Cycle Methodological Approach for Voluntary Carbon Market

An interview with Dr Stanley Yip of NanRise Pte Ltd by  the Jiangsu Provincial Green Building Association (JGBA) *, January 2026:

The building sector is a significant contributor to China's CO₂ emissions. In a recent interview with the Jiangsu Provincial Green Building Association (JGBA), Dr Yip shared his perspective on integrating the sector into the national carbon market.

The mandatory carbon market currently focuses on supply-side industries like power, cement, and steel.. Including buildings is complex because most emissions happen during usage, making tracking difficult.

The key takeaways for a practical path forward are:

• Leverage the Voluntary Market (CCER): In the short term, the China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) program offers a pragmatic solution. We need robust methodologies to measure and aggregate efficiency improvements and low-carbon materials across a building's entire lifecycle—from construction to operation and demolition.

  
  

• Think Aggregation: Individual projects yield modest credits, but bundling many small initiatives—such as an industrial park's collective rooftop solar—creates a substantial, viable carbon asset that can attract financing.

  
  

• Adopt the "Two-Track" EU Model: Combining strict building standards with market-based carbon pricing on energy/fuel suppliers drives stronger results than either alone.

• Prioritize Data & Global Alignment: Developing realistic regional baselines, ensuring data integrity with AI tools, and aligning China's standards with international norms (like the Integrity Council’s Core Carbon Principles) are essential for credibility and global competitiveness.

  
  

The goal is a strategic shift: utilizing short-term voluntary market pilots and data technology while working toward stronger, long-term mandates. The building sector is a critical frontier in global decarbonization, and collaboration across policy, industry, and finance is key.

*(The Jiangsu Provincial Green Building Association promotes sustainable construction, energy efficiency, and low-carbon development within Jiangsu Province, China. It plays a key role in implementing provincial green building standards, fostering green technology innovation, and organizing industry conferences like the Jiangsu-Canada Green and Low Carbon Development Conference. The association brings together experts, academics, and industry professionals, collaborating with bodies like the Jiangsu Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD).. The organization supports the adoption of green building materials, eco-friendly design, and the development of high-quality, energy-efficient, and sustainable residential and commercial projects.).

Dr Yip was interviewed by the Jiangsu Provincial Green Building Association on how the China building sector could leverage the carbon finance mechanisms to decarbonize the built environment.