Press release
Zero-Emission Construction Machinery Promotion and Implementation Conference Held in Beijing
A landmark event brings together government, industry, and international partners to accelerate the shift toward zero-emission construction machinery.
Beijing, September 27, 2025 — The Zero-Emission Construction Machinery Promotion and Implementation Conference was held in Beijing, culminating in the launch of the China Zero-Emission Construction Machinery Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Initiative.
The conference was co-hosted by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) and the China Construction Machinery Association (CCMA), with support from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). It drew nearly 100 participants from national and local government agencies, research institutions, equipment manufacturers, users, energy companies, and industry associations.
At the opening session, speakers from the Department of Atmospheric Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), CRAES, and CCMA delivered remarks highlighting the importance of the sector’s low-carbon transition and outlined key policy directions.
“China has made the fastest progress in improving air quality worldwide, yet emissions from non-road mobile machinery remain a major challenge,” said Cui Mingming, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Atmospheric Environment, MEE. “Accelerating the zero-emission transition of construction machinery is both a critical and long-term task, requiring joint efforts from all stakeholders.”
Stephanie Searle, Chief Program Officer at the ICCT, also delivered a speech. She highlighted that more than 300 cities in China have introduced low-emission zones, some of which cover construction sites, demonstrating important progress in reducing emissions from the off-road sector. “This progress is not only important within China, but also has significant implications for the global clean transition,” said Searle. “By working together, we can turn this immense potential into real-world impact.”
Over two days, participants from the California Air Resources Board, the City of Oslo, C40 Cities, Hangzhou, as well as manufacturers, energy providers, and equipment users exchanged insights on the practical applications of zero-emission construction machinery, exploring its potential, opportunities, and challenges, and offering recommendations for accelerating its wider adoption.
Lei Wang, Director of the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, shared the city’s experience with its near-zero-emission construction site pilot. “Since 2023, Hangzhou has phased out about 34,000 diesel vehicles and upgraded over 2,000 pieces of off-road machinery,” Wang said. “As China’s first national pilot city for pollution and carbon reduction, and a C40 Clean Construction City, Hangzhou is showing how large-scale electrification can be realized in complex urban projects.”
In the closing session, the China Zero-Emission Construction Machinery Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Initiative was launched. Bringing together government, industry, users, research institutions and international organizations, the initiative will drive collaboration on policy, technology, and market development. Planned activities include policy pilots, industry reports, demonstration projects, public outreach, and international engagement—all aimed at accelerating large-scale adoption of zero-emission construction machinery.
While the forum highlighted strong progress and growing consensus, participants also pointed out that scaling zero-emission construction machinery will require clearer policy and market signals, stronger support for charging infrastructure and cost-effective deployment, and better coordination on standards and implementation. The conference—and the launch of the multi-stakeholder collaboration—offers a vital platform to sustain this dialogue, align policy and industry efforts, and turn shared ambition into practical action.
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Media contact
Wenbin Wu, China Communications and Public Relations Manager, communications@theicct.org
About the International Council on Clean Transportation
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) is an independent research organization providing first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators. Our mission is to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation, in order to benefit public health and mitigate climate change. Founded in 2001, we are a nonprofit organization working under grants and contracts from private foundations and public institutions.
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