China’s Commitment to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

China has announced its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing insight into how global emissions might change over the next decade. In a video address to the United Nations Climate Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 10% from peak levels by 2035.

The Importance of Emission Reduction in China

China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, contributing about one-third of the global total. Therefore, the pace of emission reduction in China will significantly impact the global level. Analysts have warned that China’s actions could greatly influence the 2015 Paris Agreement.

In 2020, China pledged that its carbon dioxide emissions would peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Some researchers believe that China’s carbon dioxide emissions may peak soon, if they haven’t already.

Nationally Determined Contribution Plan

The latest targets are part of China’s Nationally Determined Contribution plan, a climate action plan that all countries signing the Paris Agreement must submit to the United Nations every five years. China has also set clean energy targets for 2035.

Researcher Yao Zhi from Greenpeace East Asia points out that the significance of the latest plan lies in its coverage of the years until 2035, beyond the proposed peak emissions in China. This is the first time China has officially outlined its plan post-peak emissions.

Challenges and Criticisms

Some researchers believe China’s emission reduction target is less than what the world needs to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, striving to stay below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Analyst Lauri Myllyvirta notes that reducing emissions by 7-10% from an unspecified amount leaves room for short-term emission increases. Myllyvirta emphasizes that what matters for the climate is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere over time.

Different Perspectives

Some researchers, like researcher Da, see China’s target as a significant step, emphasizing that reducing non-carbon dioxide emissions is usually more challenging than reducing carbon dioxide emissions. A study published in January found that reducing emissions by 10-12% from peak levels by 2035 would enable China to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Conclusion

In conclusion, China’s announcement of its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is an important step in the context of global efforts to combat climate change. Despite criticisms that the target may not be sufficient to meet the Paris Agreement goals, this step represents progress within the global efforts to achieve a more sustainable future.