卡内基国际和平基金会-Progress-or-Paralysis-on-Addressing-Climate-Change__6页_419kb

CHINA IN THE WORLD PODCAST: Episode 28 Summary

Core Content

This episode of the "China in the World" podcast features a discussion between host Wang Tao and Dr. Zou Ji, deputy director of China's National Center of Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, on the progress and challenges in addressing climate change, focusing on U.S.-China policy shifts and the upcoming UN Climate Summit in September 2014.

Main Points

U.S. Climate Policy Shifts

• Obama's Announcement: On June 2, 2014, President Obama announced a restriction on emissions from existing power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S.
• EPA's Clean Power Plan: The EPA proposed guidelines to cut power plant emissions by 30% by 2030, aiming to reduce the role of coal in electricity generation.
• Feasibility and Significance: Dr. Zou Ji acknowledges the positive signal from the U.S. but believes the 30% reduction is not a strong enough indicator for other countries. He notes that the U.S. has the capacity to do more, especially with the rise of shale gas and non-coal fuels.

U.S.-China Climate Cooperation

• Recent Agreements: During the 6th round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, agreements were made on technological cooperation, such as coal-to-synthetic gas development and carbon capture technologies.
• Nature of Cooperation: While these agreements are meaningful, Dr. Zou Ji emphasizes the need for deeper collaboration, including joint R&D, investment, and commercial models.
• Expectations for Other Sectors: He expects similar cooperation in areas like smart grid technology, vehicle emission standards, and efficiency improvements.

China's Emission Commitments

• Kyoto Protocol Exemption: China is not bound by the Kyoto Protocol's emission caps.
• Ambitious Targets: There is hope that China will announce an ambitious overall cap on emissions by the first half of 2015.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): China is expected to propose its intended nationally-determined contribution (INDC) in the first half of 2015. This is part of the negotiation process and may include various indicators, not just an overall cap.

UN Green Climate Fund (GCF)

• Germany's Contribution: Germany pledged 750 million euros to the GCF, which is seen as a positive step.
• Pressure on Developed Countries: Dr. Zou Ji believes this should encourage, not pressure, other developed countries to act.
• China's Role: He suggests that China's contribution may not be directly within the GCF framework but could occur in other contexts like South-South cooperation.

UN Climate Summit in September 2014

• Role of the Summit: The summit is expected to provide a platform for negotiations and deliver positive political messages.
• Lima Conference and Paris Agreement: The summit precedes the Lima Climate Conference and sets the stage for the Paris Agreement in 2015.
• Expectations for Paris: Dr. Zou Ji is cautiously optimistic about a global agreement in Paris, expecting enhanced actions on mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance.

Key Information

• U.S. Policy: The U.S. is making progress in reducing emissions from the power sector, but more ambitious targets are expected.
• China's Approach: China is studying various options for its contribution, including the possibility of an overall cap, and is likely to propose an INDC by mid-2015.
• Global Cooperation: The success of international climate agreements depends on cooperation in technology and finance, with developed countries leading the way.
• Role of the GCF: While the GCF is a critical mechanism, China's contributions may not be within this framework, and the focus is on developed countries fulfilling their financial commitments.
• Paris Agreement: There is a strong expectation for a meaningful agreement in Paris, but Dr. Zou Ji remains cautious due to the lack of sufficient commitments from developed countries.

Conclusion

Dr. Zou Ji highlights the importance of international cooperation, particularly in technology and finance, for achieving meaningful climate change agreements. He acknowledges the positive developments in U.S. policy and U.S.-China collaboration but stresses the need for more ambitious and concrete actions from all parties, especially developed countries, to support a global transition to low-carbon pathways.