Abstract
In November 2009, China pledged a 40–45% decrease in CO2 emissions per GDP by 2020, as compared with the 2005 level. Although carbon intensity (emission) targets by nature are ambiguous, this study demonstrates that China’s pledge is consistent with the current Chinese domestic agenda that simultaneously pursues economic growth and energy security. The target numbers in the pledge seem reasonable, given the technological feasibility and measures, considered along with the assumption that moderate economic growth will occur. However, the study also argues that financial and institutional constraints exist as potential obstacles to achieving the target if the trend of the current economic tendencies continues.
Highlights
International pressure on China to take collaborative action on curbing CO2 emissions has been growing ever since it became the world’s largest CO2 emitter, with its emissions expected to continue to increase
This study has evaluated China’s pledge regarding CO2 emission reduction per GDP by 2020
An intensity target as a measure against climate change remains unclear until all the elements of it are clarified
Summary
International pressure on China to take collaborative action on curbing CO2 emissions has been growing ever since it became the world’s largest CO2 emitter, with its emissions expected to continue to increase. Still a developing country, with a population of 1.3 billion, must simultaneously pursue further economic growth and energy security in the coming years In this sense, the reduction of per GDP CO2 emissions is essentially in line with Chinese domestic issues. China has set an official mid-term goal of energy efficiency: quadrupling GDP by 2020, but only doubling energy consumption, compared with the base year 2000. This mid-term goal means an improvement of 50% in energy intensity and is roughly equivalent to the target of 40–45% CO2 emission reduction per GDP. These actions clearly indicate that the pledge is not merely coincidental, but strategic
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
