In 2025, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and Green Jiangnan, together with nine other environmental organizations, jointly launched the “Vehicle Carbon Footprint Snap” campaign. The active participation of Blue Map App users unlocked the product carbon footprints of more than 280,000 vehicles via street snap, revealing total emissions exceeding 10.26 million tons of CO?. Notably, Volvo Cars' average carbon footprint of the photographed models was 306 grams per kilometer, higher than that of 89.3% of brands in the observed sample. To accelerate low-carbon transformation of China’s automotive sector and provide consumers with more environmentally sustainable choices, the eleven environmental organizations collectively sent an open letter to leading automakers. Several Chinese and international brands responded constructively and engaged in dialogue and exchanges. However, Volvo has yet to provide any response to date.

In February 2026, through its engagement in environmental and climate action, IPE witnessed 93 enterprises passed the GCA audit, verifying the effectiveness of their corrective actions, which led to the removal of 247 supervision records from the Blue Map website. Starting in February, IPE has been upgrading the PRTR and carbon data reporting system, during which the reporting portal has been temporarily closed. The system upgrade is nearing completion, and the reporting portal will be reopened by March 13.

2026 has been widely described as a “landmark year” for corporate environmental information disclosure. With the joint issuance of the Enterprise Sustainability Disclosure Standards No.1 – Climate (Trial) by the Ministry of Finance and eight other ministries, alongside new sustainability disclosure requirements released by the three major stock exchanges, value chain greenhouse gas (GHG) disclosure (Scope 3) has formally transitioned from an “encouraged exploration” phase to a stage of standardized regulation. This shift represents not only a test of corporate transparency in environmental information disclosure, but also a profound transformation of corporate digital carbon management capabilities.

In 2025, through its engagement in environmental and climate action, IPE witnessed growing momentum of transparency in the development of green and low-carbon supply chains. As environmental information disclosure enters a landmark year, enhanced environmental and climate transparency across supply chains will further transform corporate ESG systems from a capital market evaluation tool into a driving engine for the green transition of the real economy.

In January 2026, through its engagement in environmental and climate action, IPE witnessed 14 enterprises disclosing a total of 14 carbon emission data sheets, and 18 enterprises disclosing a total of 20 PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) data sheets. In addition, 93 enterprises passed the GCA audit, verifying the effectiveness of their corrective actions, which led to the removal of 247 supervision records from the Blue Map website.

The "Vehicle Carbon Footprint Snap" campaign has sparked questioning: Why is the carbon footprint of Mercedes-Benz cars consistently high? Which sector of production has a greater impact on a vehicle's carbon footprint? Why do cars that look extremely similar have such vastly different carbon footprints in different market contexts? What is the current situation and what are the problems regarding carbon footprint management in Chinese automotive enterprises? How should work proceed in the future? To address these questions, CPCD invited special guests Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) and Ning Lizhe, automotive industry practitioner for an interview.

In December 2025, through its engagement in environmental and climate action, IPE witnessed 74 enterprises disclosing a total of 78 carbon emission data sheets, and 78 enterprises disclosing a total of 83 PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) data sheets. In addition, 116 enterprises passed the GCA audit, verifying the effectiveness of their corrective actions, which led to the removal of 303 supervision records from the Blue Map website.