November 17, 2016

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing to address the actions China plans to be taken to achieve its goals under the Paris Climate Agreement.

The speakers highlighted external pressures, such as the high carbon cap expectations of other ratifying nations, and internal pressures, such as China’s increasing air pollution, as reasons the Chinese government ultimately decided to enact new climate change policies.

Jiansheng Qu, Director of the Scientific Information Center for Resources and Environment at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provided a comprehensive overview of China’s Household Carbon Emissions (HCEs) and outlined China’s primary environmental targets for the next five years. China aims to reduce its emissions per its gross domestic product (GDP) to 40-45 percent of the 2015 value by 2020 and to 60-65 percent of the 2005 value by 2030. China plans to increase the ratio of non-fossil fuel energy to other energy sources by 15 percent by 2020 and 20 percent by 2030 and to commence the operation of a national carbon trading system by 2017.

Linling Mu, Secretary General at the Tianjin Green Supply Chain Association, discussed the complexities of a national emissions trading system. Mu outlined China’s Green Supply Chain policy pilot program. This pilot program led to the establishment of governmental regulations to promote environmentally friendly carbon trading activities within Tianjin. Mu detailed the Tianjin Province’s Climate Exchange, a domestic carbon cap-and-trade program, which encourages companies to reduce their carbon footprint for financial gain by pricing carbon and placing limits on carbon emissions.

Sources: China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, White House Office of the Press Secretary