Research on China’s technology lists for addressing climate change

Abstract

The compilation of technology lists addressing climate change has a guiding effect on promoting technological research and development, demonstration, and popularization. It is also crucial for China to strengthen ecological civilization construction, achieve the carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality target, and enhance global climate governance capabilities. This study first proposes the existing classification outline of the technology promotion lists, technology demand lists, and future technology lists. Then, different methodologies are integrated on the basis of the existing outline of four technology lists: China’s existing technological promotion list for addressing climate change, China’s demand list for climate change mitigation technology, China’s key technology list for addressing climate change, and China’s future technology list for addressing climate change. What’s more, core technologies are analyzed in the aspects of technology maturity, carbon reduction cost, carbon reduction potential, economic benefits, social influence, uncertainty, etc. The results show that: key industries and sectors in China already have relatively mature mitigation/adaptation technologies to support the achievement of climate change targets. The multi-sectoral system of promoting climate-friendly technologies has been established, which has played an active role in tackling climate change. Currently, climate technology needs are concentrated in the traditional technology and equipment upgrading, renewable energy technology, and management decision-making support technology. The key technologies are concentrated in 3 major areas and 12 technological directions that urgently need a breakthrough. For carbon emmission peak and nentrality, carbon depth reduction and zero carbon emissions and geoengineering technology (CDR and SRM) have played an important role in forming the structure of global emissions and achieving carbon neutrality in the future. Thus, the uncertainty assessment for the comprehensive technology cost-effectiveness, technology integration direction, technical maturity, ethics and ecological impacts is supportive to the national technology strategy. Finally, the presented study proposes several policy implications for medium- and long-term technology deployment, improving technology conversion rate, promoting the research and development of core technologies, and forming a technology list collaborative update and release mechanism.