COP 26: China gap between its commitments for climate and its dependence of coal

While determining to lower its greenhouse gas emissions, Beijing has supported India to reduce the scope of the final agreement.

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Twice more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than the United States and four times more than India, China has known, despite the very tense relationships with these two countries, get closer to each ‘them during the Glasgow conference on the climate. Caregiver, Wednesday, November 10, his image of worldwide responsible responsible by sponsoring with Washington a “joint statement on strengthening climate action”, Beijing also defended his interests two days later to Delhi’s side to make less ambitious the final agreement. An ambiguity revealing of the special place occupied by China on the international scene, both developed and developing countries.

Sector objectives by sector

China arrived at COP26 with a good file. Certainly, the country is the main consumer of coal, but his altoil president, Xi Jinping, has made firm commitments: to achieve carbon neutrality in 2060 and cease now to finance the development of new coal plants at the ‘foreigner. Just before the opening of the meeting, Beijing had communicated to the UN its national contribution to the fight against global warming. China, which is responsible for about a quarter of global GHG emissions, now wants to reach a “before 2030” emission peak and “2060” carbon neutrality. In addition, Beijing is now aiming at a reduction in the carbon intensity of its economy of “more than 65%” in 2030 compared to its 2005 level and wants to reach a separated share of “about 25%” in 2030 in 2030 .

Sign of determination, the Chinese government published on 21 October a document by sector by sector the objectives to be achieved in order to, overall, reduce the CO emissions 2 “before 2030” . In particular, petrochemicals are targeted, steel production, non-ferrous metals and building materials. On November 9, several ministries (transport, agriculture, industry and technologies, construction …) have in turn published their plan for a “clean production”. The Greenpeace Manager for Southeast Asia, Li Shuo, noted that “Chinese commitments may not be sufficient but they go in the right direction”.

A Document published by l ‘German research institute Merics shows that on some points, Chinese commitments are more ambitious than those of the European Union or the United States. Solar and wind energy capacity is expected to reach 1,200 gigawatts (GW) in China in 2030 while the United States has not published any figures and that the European Union is committed only for wind turbine (631 GW ) Similarly, renewable energies will have to provide more than 80% of energy consumption in 2060. The United States has not made any such commitment and the European Union sets a less ambitious goal (32% at 40%) but in much shorter term (2030).

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/Media reports.