China plays a crucial role in global greenhouse gas emissions, producing around twice as many emissions as the US. Despite being urged to step up on climate finance and take a leadership role in addressing the climate crisis, China lacks sufficient climate targets and remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
What is the role of other countries in urging China to take on more responsibility?
Other countries like the US, EU, and some developing countries have urged China to contribute more to climate finance. The G77 coalition of developing countries and China group has also called for China’s participation in climate finance efforts.
Why is China being urged to contribute more?
Developing countries like Bangladesh are urging China to contribute more to climate finance because of its significant economic size and growing influence in global emissions. Rizwana Hasan, an adviser to the Environment Ministry for Bangladesh’s interim government, said that “China can contribute, others can contribute, India can contribute to some extent.”
What is China’s current position on climate action?
China has made significant investments in renewable energy, investing $273 billion in clean energy in 2023. However, it still relies heavily on coal power and has a record high production of coal in 2023. The country aims to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
What are the expectations for China at COP29?
Negotiators are urging China to set more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to contribute to climate finance. Some experts believe that China’s leadership in climate action could be a game-changer, as it has already made significant progress in decarbonizing its economy.
China plays a crucial role in global greenhouse gas emissions, producing around twice as many emissions as the US. Its economy is still heavily reliant on coal power, and production hit a record high in 2023. However, China has also become a leader in renewable energy investments, investing $273 billion in clean energy in 2023.
What are the implications of China’s actions at COP29?
What is the current state of climate finance?
Climate finance is a critical aspect of global climate action, with developing countries requiring $1 trillion per year by 2030 to reduce emissions and deal with the impacts of extreme weather. Industrialized countries are supposed to contribute to this fund, but China has not contributed to a previously agreed goal of developed countries to raise $100 billion annually.
China is being urged to step up on climate finance and take a leadership role in addressing the climate crisis, as the US prepares to leave the Paris Agreement. China is investing heavily in renewable energy, with $273 billion invested in clean energy in 2023, more than Europe. The country commissioned as much solar PV in 2023 as the entire world did in 2022 and increased wind capacity by 66% last year. Almost 60% of new electric car registrations are in China.
Despite being a renewables powerhouse, China lacks sufficient climate targets and remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with coal providing most of the country’s energy. The Climate Change Performance Index ranked China 55 out of 67 countries monitored for progress on climate action.
