China And Climate Change

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Why and When did the UNFCCC come about?

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In 1992, countries joined an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to cooperatively consider what they could do to limit average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and to cope with whatever impacts were, by then, inevitable. By 1995, countries realized that emission reductions provisions in the Convention were inadequate. They launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol.

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Who has signed up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change? Is China a part of either/both/neither?

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There are now 195 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. Yes, China is a party to the Convention and is considered a non-Annex I member. China is also a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol.

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Has China signed/ratified the Doha amendment, which established the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol?

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Yes, China has both signed and ratified the Doha amendment (02 June 2014). I think this is significant because it shows the willingness and intent of China to change.

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What is China's GDP this year in US Dollars?

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China lags right behind the United States ($18,125 Billion) with $11,212 Billion

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What is China's GDP measured in PPP valuation (Purchase Power Parity)?

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China has the highest GDP with 18976 (measured in current international currency) with the USA following right behind

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Under the Protocol, countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Protocol also offers them an additional means to meet their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms. The Kyoto mechanisms are:

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International Emissions Trading, Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM's), Joint Implementation (JI)

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What is a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)?

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The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), defined in Article 12 of the Protocol, allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.The mechanism is seen by many as a trailblazer. It is the first global, environmental investment and credit scheme of its kind, providing a standardized emissions offset instrument, CERs.A CDM project activity might involve, for example, a rural electrification project using solar panels or the installation of more energy-efficient boilers.The mechanism stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries some flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction or limitation targets.

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How is a CDM pertinent to our conversation on China?

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China is THE LEADER in CDM projects (look at this graph: http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/MapApp/index.html)

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What is International Emissions Trading?

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Greenhouse gas emissions – a new commodity Parties with commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Parties) have accepted targets for limiting or reducing emissions. These targets are expressed as levels of allowed emissions, or “assigned amounts,” over the 2008-2012 commitment period. The allowed emissions are divided into “assigned amount units” (AAUs).Emissions trading, as set out in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows countries that have emission units to spare - emissions permitted them but not "used" - to sell this excess capacity to countries that are over their targets.Thus, a new commodity was created in the form of emission reductions or removals. Since carbon dioxide is the principal greenhouse gas, people speak simply of trading in carbon. Carbon is now tracked and traded like any other commodity. This is known as the "carbon market."

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What is Joint Implementation?

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The mechanism known as “joint implementation,” defined in Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows a country with an emission reduction or limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction or emission removal project in another Annex B Party, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target. Joint implementation offers Parties a flexible and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part of their Kyoto commitments, while the host Party benefits from foreign investment and technology transfer.

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When was the Kyoto Protocol adopted?

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The Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997.

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When did the Kyoto Protocol enter into force?

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The Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005 in accordance with Article 23, that is the ninetieth day after the date on which not less than 55 Parties to the UNFCCC, incorporating Parties included in Annex I which accounted in total for at least 55 % of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 of the Parties included in Annex I, have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

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When did China sign and ratify the UNFCC

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China signed with other countries in 1992. It was one of THE FIRST countries to ratify the treaty in 1993 and also one of the first to enter into force in 1994. It illustrates China's motivation in climate change. (http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/status_of_ratification/items/2631.php)

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When did China sign/ratify/enter into force the Kyoto Protocol?

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China signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 and ratified it in 2002, which was one of the earliest to ratify among the state signatories. In 2005, the Protocol entered into force.

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Stockholm Conference of 1972

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The Stockholm Conference of 1972While environmental treaties date back to the endof the 19th Century, the vast majority of MEAshave been adopted since the 1972 United NationsConference on the Human Environment (UNCHE ),often referred to as the Stockholm Conference.Indeed, UNCHE was a watershed event thathelped launch the last 30 years of increasinglyintensive treaty-making in the fi eld of internationalenvironmental law, as well as much activity withinnational governments

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Rio Conference of 1992

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The Rio Conference of 1992: The twin UN goals of environmental protection/conservation and economic development evolvedinto the concept of sustainable developmentthrough the work of the World Commission onEnvironment and Development (WCED) and its1987 report entitled ”Our Common Future” (knownas the Brundtland Report for the President of theCommission, Gro Harlem Brundtland, formerPrime Minister of Norway). In this report, theconcept of sustainable development was defi ned MEA Negotiator’s HandbookVersion 2.0 June 2007 1-5as follows: ”[D]evelopment that meets the needsof the present without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet their own needs.” At theUnited Nations Conference on Environment andDevelopment (UNCED) held in Rio in 1992, thisconcept gained broad international support as thekey element to consider in developing internationalenvironmental policy.The Rio Conference was attended by thousands ofparticipants, including 176 States, 103 of which wererepresented by the Head of Government. The resultswere numerous and included:• the adoption of the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change (known asUNFCCC)• the adoption of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity (known as CBD)• the decision to negotiate the Convention to CombatDesertifi cation• an Action plan called ”Agenda 21 ” (in reference tothe 21st century)• the decision to establish the Commission onSustainable Development (CSD – see Annex onInternational Bodies)

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What's an MEA?

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An MEA is considered to be a legally bindingagreement between several States related to the environment.Various terms are used to designate treaties (agreement,convention, covenant, protocol, treaty). The most commonly usedterm is ”convention” (e.g. CBD, Desertifi cation Convention).While distinctions can be made, the terms treaty and conventionare general terms for legally binding agreements between States.The words ”covenant” or ”agreement” may also be regardedas treaties, but not in all cases. States may use the terminologydifferently, but in all cases, for an agreement to be legally binding,there must be a clear intention by the Parties. As a treaty, an MEA creates binding international obligationsbetween Parties to it. All Parties to an MEA must performtheir obligations in good faith (known as the rule of pacta suntservanda —see art. 26 of VCLT ) and no Party may invokethe provisions of its own domestic law to justify its failure tocomply with an MEA obligation (see art. 27 of VCLT).

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China's Population (2010)

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1.338 billion ‎(2010)

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CO2 Emissions Per Capita in China in 2010

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6.19 metric tons (2010) compared to the United States which was 17.56 metric tons ‎(2010).

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Does China have high total CO2 emissions?

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Yes, China has been considered to have the highest CO2 emissions but much lower than the United States if you look at per capita!

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Cap-and-Trade in China

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Cap-and-Trade Programs – In October 2011, China announced its intention to establish seven pilot carbon trading systems in five municipalities and two provinces across the country. On June 19, 2014, the seventh of these pilots was launched in the city of Chongqing. The pilots cover between 35 to 60 percent of emissions within their respective jurisdictions. Each operates under its own rules tailored to regional or local circumstances.The sub-national pilots reflect China’s growing interest in the use of market-based instruments – and emissions trading in particular – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The experience gained through these pilot programs is developing familiarity with emissions trading among companies and regulators in large portions of China.On September 25, 2015, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced a plan to launch a nationwide cap-and-trade program in 2017, covering the power generation, iron and steel, chemicals, building materials including cement, paper-making and nonferrous metals sectors.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China

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GHG Emissions – China has been the world’s largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter since 2006. Under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, China pledged to reduce its emissions intensity by 40-45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. In a joint announcement with the United States in Beijing in November 2014, China announced two new goals: peaking greenhouse gas emissions by around 2030, and increasing non-fossil sources to 20 percent of total energy by 2030. China later included these two goals in its intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) to the new international climate agreement to be concluded in Paris in December 2015, along with a goal of reducing carbon intensity 60-65 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

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Renewable energy in China

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Renewable Energy – The twelfth FYP set a target of increasing non-fossil energy to 11.4 percent of total energy use by 2015. Hydroelectric power is the main non-fossil energy source in China, generating 14.7 percent of electricity in 2011. Indeed, China is the largest hydroelectric producer in the world. The government wishes to increase installed hydroelectric capacity from 230 GW in 2011, to 330 GW in 2017. Solar and wind energy deployment has increased at rapid pace – for instance, China installed 12.9 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) in 2013 to reach a total capacity to 20 GW.[i] The Chinese government announced targets to increase solar and wind capacity to 70 and 150 GW, respectively, by 2017.

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Coal use in China

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Coal – After many years of rapid increases, the government is now taking steps to reduce China’s coal consumption. In 2013, 67.5 percent of energy consumption was from coal.[ii] In September that year, following rising concerned about air pollution, the government issued the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action plan with the headline target of reducing coal consumption to 65 percent of total primary energy by 2017. Bans on new coal power plants are now in place in three industrial regions: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta.[iii]More recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced plans to reduce coal consumption by 80 million tons by 2017, and 160 million tons by 2020 – China’s total coal consumption in 2014 was approximately 2.8 billion tons.[iv][v]Furthermore, the State Council has announced plans to cap national coal consumption at 4.2 billion tons from 2020 onwards.

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Energy efficiency in China

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Energy Efficiency – Improving energy efficiency is critical to achieving China’s carbon intensity targets. In 2008, China passed the Energy Conservation Law to boost energy efficiency throughout the Chinese economy. In 2010, the NDRC implemented demand-side management regulations that require utilities to achieve electricity savings of 0.3 percent per year, and reduce peak demand by the same percentage.[viii] China also has sector-specific energy efficiency standards – for instance, new commercial buildings must comply with building codes on energy use.[ix] There are also energy efficiency standards for household appliances that become more stringent over time.[x]

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Nuclear Energy in China

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Nuclear – Nuclear power will play an increasing role in China’s energy mix in coming years. Capacity will increase from 14 GW in 2013 to 48 GW by 2017. In total, there are 26 reactors currently in operation, and 28 under construction.[vii] The government has set a target of 58 GW of nuclear capacity by 2020.

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Transportation Reduction in China

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Transportation – In 2012 the China State Council approved a development plan for energy saving from the automobile industry up to 2020. The objective is to speed the development and roll out of more fuel-efficient cars and new energy sources. For manufacturers, China set target fuel economy standards for new cars of 5L/100km, approximately 47 miles per gallon (mpg), by 2020. Consumers were offered a reduction in the vehicle tax paid on energy saving vehicles by half, and eliminating vehicle tax altogether on electric cars.[xi]

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China's unveiled climate change plans in 2015

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The office of Premier Li Keqiang said that emissions "will peak by around 2030" and China would work hard to achieve the target even earlier.The statement echoes China's declaration last November following a US-China summit.China's pledge comes ahead of talks late this year in Paris to seek a new global deal on climate change.The statement, released following a meeting in Paris between Li and French President Francois Hollande, said China aimed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65% by 2030, from 2005 levels.The carbon intensity target builds on a previous plan to cut carbon intensity by 40-45% by 2020.China also aimed to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its primary energy consumption to about 20% by 2030, the statement added.Beijing previously set a goal of getting around 15% of its energy from clean sources by 2020.

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Montana's Part to Memorize

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Lima also resulted in an agreement by Parties to submit their “intended nationally determined contribution” (INDC) before COP21. China has fulfilled this promise to ensure that our commitment to climate change is of utmost priority and our INDC outlines our plan to do so. We are excited to commit to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 65% by 2030, from their 2005 levels, a 25% increase in commitment from the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. Furthermore, as illustrated in our sustained market and consumption in photovoltaic solar panels, we are committed to the public-private partnership integral to the maintenance and continued success of our mission to reduce global emissions output and increase renewable energy resources. This year we have a unique opportunity to take collective action to address the most pressing issue of our time. Together, we should spare no effort to reach a balanced and universally-binding agreement that promotes the achievement of sustainable development and preserves our planet.