Song Li

1. China’s efforts to address climate change and participation in international negotiationsThe Global Environment: Negotiating Cultural Attitudes and International RegimesFebruary 3, 2001, 4:30-6:30pm Song Li

2. Climate change is upon us Third Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): • average temperature rises by more than 10 degrees over the next 100 years • more frequent brutal droughts, floods and violent storms across the planet over the next century

3. Solutions • Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) • Kyoto Protocol (1997) • Leadership of industrialized countries • Participation of other countries, including China

4. Main points • steps taken by China to slow down the growth rate of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions • how China relies on its centralized approach to promote environmental protection • how China better links its national activities with the global efforts to address CC

5. Hosting 21.5% of the world population the largest coal producer/consumer contributes 13% of global CO2 emissions second largest CO2 emitter, after the US. China’s emissions: 2031 million tons of carbon by 2020 become the world’s largest CO2 emitter by 2020 Where China stands

6. China’s energy consumption could have been as twice as high as its actually use*incomes are rising at least twice as quickly as energy use * reduced energy intensity by 4.5 percent each year over the past two decades * developing countries’elasticities closer to or above 1.0, making China unique in the developing world

7. Other examples to reduce CO2 emissions and air pollutionIn Beijing metropolitan, public buses use natural gas; 40,000 out of 60,000 taxis shifted from gasoline into natural gasconsidering reformulating motor vehicle fuel to include 10% corn alcohol and 90% gasoline with the hope to both reduce vehicle emissions and conserve energyChina has wind farms with the total capacity of 250 MW and is preparing a program with GEF and WB to increase its wind energy up to 3000 to 5000 MW by 2010

8. How environmental work gets done in China? Triggers of governmental interventions: • political imperatives -- bid for hosting Olympics in 2008 • international obligations -- implementation of Montreal Protocol on Ozone Layer • economic needs -- constant motors

9. What is behind economic needs?Economic needs are basically dictated by markets, which include needs of people, as both producers and consumers. With two decades of rapid economic development, enterprises are looking for higher energy efficiency once subsidies to materials were removed.

10. With limits of market in China, major governmental interventions in the key environmental areas are welcomed by most people and matched with economic needs. This seems a sound process of consensus building between the government and people through market signals.

11. Sustainability of governmental interventions • Equity between different cities/provinces • environmental/technical standards • role of laws • role of individuals, private business

12. China’s participation in international climate change negotiations • ratified the UNFCCC in early 1993 • prepare national communication, i.e. inventories of GHG emissions, received a grant of $3 million the GEF • improve energy efficiency and install wind and solar energy with the GEF grants more than $300 million

13. Is China supporting global climate change efforts and the Kyoto protocol ? Two improvements are needed: 1) a more friendly environment for China’s participation, and 2) adjustments with China’s participation in climate change negotiations

14. What is damaging the negotiating environment? • distrust between China and US • China’s commitment is requested as a condition for US to ratify the Kyoto Protocol (Byrd Resolution, 1997) • further polarization between North and South and delaying most important issues to address actual CC

15. clearer and better strategy from US • Equity. China has 21% of the world population. US per capita emission is 7.5 times higher China • Historic responsibility. US responsible for five times the amount of carbon emissions as China over the twentieth century • Effects to remedy CC, China’s participation is key because of emission contribution and influence among developing countries • Timing to address CC, priority is to start the process. China should participate at a later stage

16. Climate change is one of the toughest negotiationsIndustrialized countries have obvious advantages Initiated by industrialized countries, CC process is a continuation of a long time domestic work. US Clean Air Act started 50 years ago and CDM can be similar to American SO2 trading system. International negotiations are based on western practice and culture. Anglo-Saxon countries have tremendous advantages.

17. No surpriseif developing countries are often ina defensive position, if there exist misunderstandings, including misunderstanding of China’s position though extremely harmful for a serious negotiation on climate change.

18. How to improve China’s participation? • Given uncertainties and fear of being trapped, • countries may have often resorted to political • statements, which are not always appropriate. • Technical and analytical comments • Listening to and relying on Chinese experts • Listening to other countries, including • some NGOs views .

19. Thinking globally and acting locally Relating its national activities to the international efforts Zhu Rongji acknowledged that China’s dust storms in 2000 had impacted Korea and Japan, and even Hawaii, for which he expressed "regret” on behalf of the Chinese people. This type of thinking will close China’s ties with its neighbors and other countries in the world.

20. Conclusions Global warming is the serious environmental challenge for this century. A better leadership by US is urgently needed to make the negotiating environment friendly to the developing world. China shown its responsibility and seriousness to address CC. Further strengthening its multi-diplomacy is an urgent task for China to face this world of globalization. Experience and lessons learned from CC negotiations are valid for China to be further involved in the globalization.