China's role in attaining the global 2°C target
In the recent climate change negotiations it was declared that the increase in global temperature should be kept below 2°C by 2100, relative to pre-industrial levels. China's CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from energy and cement processes already account for nearly 24% of global emissions, a trend that is expected to keep increasing. Thus the role of China in global GHG mitigation is crucial. A scenario analysis of China's CO<sub>2</sub> emissions is presented here and the feasibility of China reaching a low-carbon scenario is discussed. The results suggest that recent and continued technological progress will make it possible for China to limit its CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and for these emissions to peak before 2025 and therefore that the global 2°C target can be achieved. <bold>Policy relevance</bold> In signing the Copenhagen Accord, China agreed to the global 2°C target. Results from this article could be used to justify low-carbon development policies and negotiations. While many still doubt the feasibility of a low-carbon pathway to support the global 2°C target, the results suggest that such a pathway can be realistically achieved. This conclusion should increase confidence and guide the policy framework further to make possible China's low-carbon development. Related policies and measures, such as renewable energy development, energy efficiency, economic structure optimization, technology innovation, low-carbon investment, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) development, should be further enhanced. Furthermore, China can play a larger role in the international negotiations process. In the global context, the 2°C target could be reaffirmed and a global regime on an emissions mitigation protocol could be framed with countries' emissions target up to 2050.
Year of publication: |
2013
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Authors: | Jiang, Kejun ; Zhuang, Xing ; Miao, Ren ; He, Chenmin |
Published in: |
Climate Policy. - Taylor & Francis Journals, ISSN 1469-3062. - Vol. 13.2013, sup01, p. 55-69
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Publisher: |
Taylor & Francis Journals |
Saved in:
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