HomeNewsSensitive interventions to catalyse China’s net-zero transition in energy and transport
- Oxford-led study identifies ways to accelerate China’s delivery of their Carbon Neutrality pledges;
- Researchers outline tensensitive interventionpoints for Beijing and Hong Kong respectively to catalyse the two cities’ energy transition;
- Implementation would deliver significant dividend in global efforts to tackle carbon emissions, and provide a template for other major cities.
The global energy transition could happen sooner than anticipated if sensitive intervention points are used to deliver China’s carbon neutrality policy at the city-level, researchers from the University of Oxford and The Chinese University of Hong Kong have outlined today.
China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases accounting for 27% of global emissions, made a surprise pledge at the 75thUN General Assembly to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, boosting hopes for a pathway to global net-zero.
However, a group of researchers, led by Sum Yue Chung, have shown that China could potentially achieve its target faster through targeting a small number of sensitive intervention policies in its major cities.
In their research, published online in the Journal of Cleaner Production, the group interviewed energy experts from the regulator, academia, industry and green groupsin Beijing and Hong Kong to canvas opinions on the most important policies for decarbonisation. The aim was to understand how local policy measures can be prioritised for disproportionately large emissions reductions.
The results have shown that some interventions are likely to work much more effectively than others; and that policies focusing on generating and importing renewable energy, electrifying public transport and private vehicles, and tightening building energy efficiency could pay large dividends in Beijing and Hong Kong. The full ranking list of interventions can be found in the paper.
Lead author, Sum Yue Chung of the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford said that policymakers can leverage complex system dynamics to identify policies that can achieve disproportionately large impact.
'While cities are influenced by global or national sensitive intervention points, this study strives to explore those that underlie concrete actions by local actors in the hope of accelerating decarbonisation and enriching the body ofclimate policy research with city-level insights and multi-level perspectives.'
'Multiple interviewees iterated the political implications of the Chinese President announcing a carbon neutrality goal. The magnitude of the changes required by the announcement has not only been felt by Beijing regulators but also by academics in Hong Kong.'
'One respondent framed carbon neutrality as a ‘grand target that changes national development goals’, driving a total revolution of China, with the announcement indicating that China has entered in the global race for net zero technological advancements.'
'This research provides the framework not only to achieve this, but to deliver it faster than 2060.'
Matthew Ives, Associate at the Institute for New Economic Thinking the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, said the research could have significant implications for the speed of the coming energy transition.
'China, with over a quarter of global emissions, is also leading the world in production and deployment of clean energy technology. They therefore hold the key to the world rapidly tackling climate change and delivering a global net zero.'
'In this research we show that with a targeted approach, China and by extension the world, can achieve its climate goals faster.'
'Decarbonisation policies related to energy technology, engagement, financial market, institutions, legal and urban configuration all have the potential to achieve this.'
'Renewable technologies are key, as the more we deploy, the more we learn, and the more costs decline. With rapid cost declining trends in solar PV and offshore wind, Hong Kong should be proactive and follow Beijing’s lead in importing more green energy.'
FAQs
The results have shown that some interventions are likely to work much more effectively than others; and that policies focusing on generating and importing renewable energy, electrifying public transport and private vehicles, and tightening building energy efficiency could pay large dividends in Beijing and Hong Kong.
How will China achieve net zero? ›
To achieve net-zero emissions will require the total decarbonization of China's electricity generation and the massive expansion of electricity use – from 7,000 TWh today to 15,000 TWh in 2050 – electrifying as much of the economy as possible.
What is the 2060 plan for China? ›
To become carbon neutral by 2060, as mandated by President Xi Jinping, China will have to build eight to 10 times more wind and solar power installations than existed in 2022. Reaching carbon neutrality will also require major construction of transmission lines.
What is the carbon neutrality roadmap for China? ›
China's carbon neutrality pledge means solar becomes the largest primary energy source by around 2045. Demand for coal drops by more than 80% by 2060, oil by around 60% and natural gas by more than 40%. Renewables and energy efficiency are the foundation of China's energy system transformation.
What is China's decarbonization policy? ›
“Dual carbon” goals refer to China's two climate goals announced by president Xi Jinping at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020. President Xi announced that China would reach its carbon emissions peak before 2030 and become “carbon neutral” before 2060.
How is China reducing carbon emissions? ›
China's shrinking carbon footprint is partly a result of investments in wind and solar power that are replacing coal as an energy source.
What is China's action plan for reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030? ›
The plan aims at shifting industrial sectors towards green and low-carbon development and achieving carbon peaking by 2030. The Plan proposes that by 2025, energy consumption per unit of added value in industry above the scale will be reduced by 13.5% compared to 2020.
Does the US have a net-zero target? ›
The United States has set a goal of net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. ) and is economy-wide. The goal is on a net basis, including both sources of emissions and removals. It does not include emissions from international aviation or international shipping.
What is the new China 5 year plan? ›
The plan aims to boost quantum information and computing, brain science, semiconductors, seed industry, genetic research, regenerative medicine, biotechnology, clinical medicine and health, and deep space, deep sea and polar exploration. The plan prioritizes development towards an integrated communications system, ...
What is the difference between net zero and carbon neutral? ›
When carbon-neutral refers to balancing out the total amount of carbon emissions, net-zero carbon means no carbon was emitted from the get-go, so no carbon needs to be captured or offset. For example, a company's building running entirely on solar, and using zero fossil fuels can label its energy as “zero carbon.”
China made historic increases in installations of solar, wind, and other renewable energy in 2023, including adding 216 gigawatts of solar capacity.
What are the key challenges for China's carbon emissions trading program? ›
Based on this literature review, the next section examines the evolution of China's ETS from pilots to the national program. The third section identifies the three most critical challenges, namely the lack of institutional capacities, economic structural transitions, and strong state control in energy sectors.
What is China's net zero strategy? ›
Preparedness and ability to reach Net Zero by 2050. China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases with a reliance on coal for energy, however, it is rapidly developing renewable generation. The government has set a 2060 Net Zero emissions target and launched a carbon emissions trading scheme.
What is China's double carbon policy? ›
Encouraging enterprises to engage in green innovation is a potent strategy for reducing carbon emissions from production. As one of the largest carbon emitters, China has launched a series of policies to achieve carbon peaking and neutrality collectively referred to as China's dual carbon policy.
Does ESG investment reduce carbon emissions in China? ›
ESG's impact on CE reduction
Cong, et al.14, based on empirical data from Chinese listed firms, found that the eastern region's environmental investments greatly increased carbon productivity, while the western and central areas saw large reductions in CE, albeit with a minor impact on carbon productivity.
What is China's 2049 plan? ›
The objective is for China to become a “modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, and harmonious.”, including many more ambitious political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions.
Is net zero by 2050 realistic? ›
And we have the inventiveness to develop more as needed. Transforming how we produce and use energy, as rapidly as possible, is a tremendous challenge — but one that we can meet head-on. For Mayfield, getting to net-zero by 2050 is a realistic goal for the United States.
In what year is China projected to reach peak carbon? ›
In 2020, China declared its commitment to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The 2060 goal is clear-cut and can be measured straightforwardly: there will be four decades of steadily declining carbon emissions, by the end of which emissions will have been neutralised.
