China’s Climate Solution
President Xi Jinping attended the Leaders Summit on Climate via video link and delivered an important speech on April 22, 2021, the 52nd World Earth Day. Prior to that, on April 16, President Xi held a video summit meeting with French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel. China and the United States have issued a Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis after talks between China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry on April 17 in Shanghai. On the stage of international climate governance restarted in the amidst of Covid-19 pandemic, China guided by Xi Jinping’s thought on eco-civilization has approached the center of the world stage with firm and confident steps, provided China’s solution for global response to climate change and made China’s contribution through real action.
INTERNATIONAL BACKGROUND OF LEADERS SUMMIT ON CLIMATE
Global climate change is one of the most serious challenges faced by the sustainable development of
human society. On April 19, 2021, on the eve of the Leaders Summit on Climate, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of the Global Climate 2020 ,a systematic record of the latest state of the worrisome global climate system with a large number of scientific facts. The year 2020 is the third warmest year on record, with global average temperature about 1.2℃ higher than that before the industrialization (1850-1900). Rising land and ocean temperatures and sea levels, ice melting and glacier retreat, and extreme weather all together pose serious threats to socio-economic development, food security and global ecosystem security. Climate change is not only as simple as a “change”, but a “climate crisis” affecting the future of mankind as stated in ChinaUS Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis. UN Secretary General Guterres once called on countries to declare a “climate emergency” until the goal of carbon neutrality is achieved. Whether there is a “climate crisis” or a “climate emergency”, it means that the international community must strengthen cooperation and take emergency countermeasures to maintain our homeland on earth.
The year 2020 is the last year before the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change as well as the key year for countries to submit and update their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) targets under the Convention. However, the UN climate conference had to be postponed due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19.The pandemic has a serious impact on the social and economic development of all countries. Moreover, the frequent occurrence of climate disasters has added difficulty to sustainable development. According to the evaluation reports of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), more than one third of the global implementation process of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been accomplished, yet the progress is not satisfactory. Pursuing a unilateralist policy of “America First” in global affairs, the Trump Administration took a negative attitude towards climate change, which is despised by the world. The Biden Administration returned to the Paris Agreement after taking office and invited the leaders of 40 countries to a climate summit. It is true that the United States has the selfish intention to regain global climate leadership, but objectively it has also gathered political consensus for restarting the process of international climate governance in the post-pandemic era, and boosted the confidence of the international community in dealing with global climate change.
CHINA’S SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
When delivering the important speech at the Leaders Summit on Climate, President Xi Jinping made profound reflection on the root causes of climate change and other global problems at the level of human civilization. While generating wealth, the industrial revolution has also brought about climate change, biodiversity crisis and many other global problems. Climate change is not an isolated problem, but a concentrated reflection of the deep contradiction between man and nature since the industrial revolution. It was against this background that President Xi Jinping put forward the concrete proposition of “six adherence” based on the idea of eco-civilization, and expounded China’s concept and solution for global response to climate change in a concise yet indepth manner.
First, we must be committed to harmony between man and nature. President Xi Jinping targeted at the deep-seated contradictions behind industrial civilization and emphasized
the building of a community of life for man and nature. That is the core essence of Xi Jinping’s thought on eco-civilization, and represents the moral height of human sustainable development.
Second, we must be committed to green development. President Xi Jinping, with the scientific proposition that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, has obtained an in-depth observation that green development is the general direction of the contemporary scientific and technological revolution as well as industrial transformation. Although green transition faces many challenges, what he sees more is the unstoppable world trend. Only through sustainable development driven by innovation can we seize the major opportunities brought about by green transition and development.
Third, we must be committed to systematic governance. Mountains, rivers, forests as well as farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts all make indivisible parts of the ecosystem. They are also interdependent and important components of the climate system. Based on the integrated thinking of ecosystem, President Xi Jinping emphasized that for protecting the environment we must attach importance to the sound circulation and overall balance of the ecosystem.
Fourth, we must be committed to a people-centered approach. The environment is the most inclusive well-being of people’s livelihood, and green transition is as well for the long-term interests of the sustainable development of mankind, which is an important starting point of eco-civilization. President Xi emphasized the importance of looking for ways to protect the environment, grow the economy, create jobs and remove poverty all at the same time, as to deliver social equity and justice in the course of green transition, reflecting the fundamental purpose of serving the people and the distinctive characteristics of China’s solution.
Fifth, we must be committed to multilateralism. Global climate change is a common challenge facing mankind, and coping with climate change is a rare and stable “greatest common divisor” among the interests of different countries. The goal of carbon neutrality has opened a new journey of global green and low-carbon development. China advocates working on the basis of international law, following the principle of equity and justice, and focusing on effective actions. We need to uphold the UN-centered international system and jointly promote global environmental governance. The resumption of climate cooperation between China and the United States is undoubtedly a positive signal to the global response to climate change. However, the difficulties faced by current international environmental governance are also obvious. Major countries still see tense relationships and lack of political mutual trust. In some countries, there is serious policy swing on climate resulting from regime changing, weakening or evading their international obligations, and even threatening with unilateral measures. President Xi clearly noted that in this process, “we must join hands, not point fingers at each other; we must maintain continuity, not reverse course easily; and we must honor commitments, not go back on promises.”
Sixth, we must be committed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. This principle is not only the fundamental principle established in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted in 1992, but also the basic rule to be followed for international cooperation in the field of global sustainable development. President Xi reiterates that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the cornerstone of global climate governance. He emphasizes the multiple challenges, important contribution, particular difficulties and concerns of developing countries, and calls on developed countries to make concrete efforts to help developing countries accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon development by supporting them in financing, technology, and capacity building, and refraining from creating green trade barriers. It is intended to enhance the solidarity and cooperation of developing countries and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. It embodies China’s basic political position of always standing with the vast number of developing countries.
CHINA’S ACTION TO CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
In his speech, President Xi not only put forward China’s concept and solution to tackle climate change, but also highlighted that China would take strong actions to adhere to the path of green and low-carbon development, so as to make China’s contribution to global response to climate change. President Xi reaffirmed China’s solemn commitment to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, which demonstrated China’s confidence and determination to the international community. As the world’s largest
developing country, China is committed to achieving the biggest decrease of carbon emission globally. It requires extraordinarily hard efforts for China to move from carbon peak to carbon neutrality at the highest speed in as short as 30 years. China’s goal of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is not only to fulfill its international obligations and show its readiness to take the responsibility as a great power in promoting the development of a community of life for man and nature, but also to meet the inherent requirements of its own sustainable development. It is an important starting point for strengthening ecological conservation and realizing the goal of a beautiful China.
The targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality have been added to China’s major national strategies and overall plan for ecological conservation. We are now making an action plan and are already taking strong nationwide actions toward carbon peak and carbon neutrality at all levels, in all sectors and fields. Support is being given to peaking pioneers from localities, sectors and companies. According to President Xi’s important speech, China’s main actions in tackling climate change can be summarized as follows.
First, we have strengthened the top-level design and made an action plan. While taking strong nationwide actions toward carbon peak, we give support to peaking pioneers from localities, sectors and companies.
Unbalanced regional development is China’s reality, so we need to show respect to scientific law in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. To encourage peaking pioneers from localities, sectors and companies would help to set aside the necessary time and space for the whole nation to achieve carbon neutrality.
Second, we have focused on energy transition by controlling and gradually reducing coal consumption, so as to set up a new type of power system with new energy as the main body. China is speeding up the transformation of its energy structure with coal as the main component. The proportion of coal in primary energy consumption has decreased significantly from nearly 70% in 2012 to 56.8% in 2020. In recent years, the rapid development of renewable energy in China has attracted worldwide attention. The installed capacity of renewable energy accounts for about 30% of the world total. In 2020, the power generated with renewable energy in China reached 2.2 trillion kWh. At the end of 2020, China’s carbon intensity was about 48.4% lower than that of 2005, and its non-fossil energy accounted for 15.9% of the total energy consumption. By that means, China has over-fulfilled its 2020 target of emission reduction, which has laid a sound foundation for achieving the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. President Xi emphasizes that China will strictly control coalfired power generation projects, and strictly limit the increase in coal consumption over the 14th Five-Year Plan period and phase it down in the 15th Five-Year Plan period. A new call has been issued to further speed up the energy transition.
Third, we have expanded the scope of greenhouse gas control. On October 15, 2016, 197 parties to the
Montreal Protocol reached an agreement on the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to reduce the emission of the powerful greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that lead to global warming. As a big producer and consumer of HFCs, China has a fast growing demand for refrigeration, which is closely related to the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. According to the Kigali Amendment, China will freeze the production and consumption of HFCs at the baseline level in 2024, and cut 10% from the baseline level in 2029 and 80% in 2045. China has decided to accept the Kigali Amendment and has made a promise to tighten regulations over non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, which means it has further enhanced the action to deal with climate change.
Fourth, China’s national carbon market has started trading. The development of carbon market is an important part of the policy system which can give full play to the market mechanism in optimizing the allocation of resources, encouraging emission reduction and achieving the carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The EU carbon emission trading system, which was launched in 2005, has played an important role in promoting the green transition of Europe and has accumulated much experience. Since the pilot carbon market was launched in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangdong, Hubei and Shenzhen in 2011, China’s carbon market development has accumulated its own experience while learning from EU’s carbon market practices. By November 2020, the pilot carbon market has covered nearly 3,000 key emission units in more than 20 industries in China, including electric power, iron and steel, cement, etc., with a cumulative quota turnover of about 430 million tons of CO2 equivalent and a cumulative turnover of nearly 10 billion yuan (RMB). Based on the long-term pilot experience, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment rolled out the Interim Rules for Carbon Emissions Trading Management on January 5, 2021. China’s national carbon market started trading on February 1 the same year, and has covered 2,225 power-generation companies and self-supply power plants up till now and will extend to other sectors in the future. China’s carbon market will become the largest one in the world, helping China achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
In addition, China also makes contribution to global response to climate change by helping other developing countries through vigorously promoting South-South cooperation. According to President Xi, as a participant, contributor and trailblazer in global ecological conservation, China is firmly committed to putting multilateralism into action and promoting a fair and equitable system of global environmental governance for win-win cooperation. In 2015, China announced that it would launch the “ten, hundred and thousand” project of 10 low-carbon demonstration zones, 100 mitigation and adaptation projects and 1,000 trainees on climate change in developing countries in 2016. As of September 2019, China has signed more than 30 memoranda of understanding on South-South cooperation on climate change with other developing countries. The Green Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China also serves as an important platform for developing countries to cope with climate change. In his keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on April 26, 2019, President Xi Jinping noted that China would set up the BRI Environmental Big Data Platform, continue to implement the Green Silk Road Envoys Program
and work with relevant countries to jointly implement the Belt and Road South-South Cooperation Initiative on Climate Change.
CONCLUSION
China has been actively and constructively participating in the process of international climate governance. From the Cancun Agreement to the Paris Agreement, China’s emission reduction action and independent contribution targets have been continuously improved. Meanwhile, China has firmly safeguarded the international multilateral mechanism on climate change with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as the main channel, and actively promoted the signing, ratification and implementation of climate conventions, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. As a developing country undergoing urbanization and industrialization, China not only takes systematic actions to limit its greenhouse gas emissions and stick to low-carbon development, but also enthusiastically shares development experience and provides funds, technology and capacity-building training to developing countries to help their low-carbon sustainable development. At the Leaders Summit on Climate on April 22, 2021, President Xi Jinping, based on China’s practice in ecological conservation and addressing climate change, put forward China’s solution of “being committed to harmony between man and Nature”, “being committed to green development”, “being committed to systemic governance”, “being committed to a people-centered approach”, “being committed to multilateralism” and “being committed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities”. It not only clarifies the direction of China’s participation in international climate governance, but also provides solutions and action paths for breaking the deadlock of international climate governance and promoting the cooperation and action on global climate governance. China's achievements and experience in green and low-carbon transition and development, energy restructuring, greenhouse gas control, national carbon market development and other fields have contributed huge carbon emission reduction fruit to global climate governance. At the same time, China’s path of practice, experience and achievements also contribute solutions and provide references to global climate governance. The new journey of global carbon neutrality has already begun, and will by no means be a plain sail. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles in our way forward, China is ready to join hand with the international community to forge ahead against all odds.