The recent news has brought the attention back to China’s stance towards the Paris Agreement, which has been renewed at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. As the world struggles to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, China calls for a ‘green focus.’
China’s Emission Records and Ambitions
China is known as the world’s largest polluter, responsible for one-fourth of the planet’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the country has set ambitious goals in relation to this alarming situation: peaking carbon-dioxide emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality before 2060.
While these objectives fall a decade later than those laid out by small nations and European powers, experts have hailed them as significant steps that could potentially reinvigorate the Paris Accord.
China’s Ongoing Green Efforts and Energy Investments
China is not only embracing global emissions-reducing accords but also actively promoting renewable energy domestically. The nation currently fulfils nearly 15% of its energy needs with non-fossil fuels, while its contribution to the world’s total renewable energy installation stands at 30%.
However, there are concerns over China’s continuous massive investments in coal and other fossil fuels. At present, China has sanctioned or is constructing around 135 gigawatts of coal-power capacity, reveals the Global Energy Monitor, an environmental group based in San Francisco. This is equivalent to about half of the total coal-power capacity in the United States, the world’s second-biggest polluter after China.
China versus USA on Emissions
China has criticized the USA for impeding the global fight against emissions, particularly pointing out the latter’s demand for plastics and waste exportation. This comes after the USA’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement, where it blamed China for the lack of progress on global emissions cuts. This has further strained the US-China relations, already tense due to conflicts over trade, technology, defence, and human rights issues.
The Paris Agreement Explained
Also known as the Conference of Parties 21 (COP 21), the Paris Agreement is a pivotal environmental pact adopted in 2015, aimed at addressing climate change and its detrimental impacts. It succeeded the Kyoto Protocol, an earlier agreement on climate change.
The main objective of the Paris Agreement is to reduce global GHG emissions. The goal is to limit the global temperature increase in this century to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and preferably limit the increase to 1.5°C by 2100.
Key components of the Paris Agreement include measures to address the monetary losses vulnerable nations suffer from climate impacts like extreme weather and provisions to raise funds to help developing countries adapt to climate change and transition to clean energy sources.
Over 180 countries submitted pledges to reduce their carbon emissions, known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), before the start of the conference. India has also reaffirmed its commitment towards meeting its INDCs and the goals stipulated under the Agreement to combat climate change.