China Signals Nation Is Ready to Lead Global Climate Action

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Or sign-in if you have an account.lut4on3f)jc[p4eu04h]x8}a_media_dl_1.png European Commission, Joint Rese(Bloomberg) — China signaled it plans to take a more important role in steering the global campaign to tackle climate change, as officials offered further details on strategy to mitigate and adapt to rising temperatures. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe nation “will constructively lead the multilateral governance process to address climate change,” said a 15th five-year plan published by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, and other key agencies.“China’s influence, guiding capacity, shaping power and moral appeal in global climate governance will be significantly enhanced” through 2030, according to the document issued Monday, the latest in a torrent of policy strategies setting out the fine details of plans to meet climate and energy targets.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe language reflects a recent shift from China’s previous positioning, when the nation — the world’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions — had described itself in official documents “as a participant, contributor and leader” in global climate efforts. “It is quite striking that they have decided to put wording like this into the 15th five-year plan now,” said Belinda Schäpe, China team lead at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. “For me, it raises a lot of questions on how that will actually translate.” The world’s No. 2 economy has often frustrated advocates of faster and more ambitious cuts to emissions, particularly over a reluctance to take a greater role in delivering climate finance to poorer nations. At an annual United Nations climate summit in Brazil last year, China didn’t join a group of nations supporting plans to accelerate the phase out of fossil fuels, and instead focused on promoting the open trade of green technologies.China’s newly issued policy plans reflect that priority, calling for “the free flow of green and low-carbon products.” It’s an outcome that would benefit China’s green manufacturing juggernauts, which increasingly need overseas markets to compensate for flagging domestic demand. “The indicated shift toward a more proactive — and sometimes assertive — approach is already evident in recent climate negotiations,” said Yao Zhe, global policy advisor at Greenpeace East Asia. “It’s also important to note that the shift happens only on a limited number of topics, especially on the nexus between climate change and trade.” China’s latest policy plan “is a clearer articulation of what China thinks, in which green technology and green trade take a central role,” she said.Since President Donald Trump announced his plan last year to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, a directive completed in January, China has reaffirmed its commitments to global climate action. President Xi Jinping pledged in September that China would be “striving to do better” than a target to reduce greenhouse gases between 7% and 10% by 2035.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.That medium-term emissions goal, which has been criticized as unambitious, is intended to addresses polluting gases beyond carbon dioxide, including methane and nitrous oxide.The latest policy document from the ecology ministry reiterates an aim to cut non-CO2 gases by 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, with a focus on areas including capturing methane from mines, cutting industrial nitrous oxide pollution, phasing out hydroflurocarbons and controlling powerful sulfur hexafluoride emissions, which are released from electrical equipment in power grids. The plans reinforces that non-CO2 greenhouse gases “are becoming an integral part of China’s climate strategy,” said Meian Chen, senior program director for beyond carbon at the ⁠Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress, a Beijing-based think tank. Other focus areas in the latest strategy include making improvements to short-term extreme weather warning systems and flood control in northern China, the better mapping of climate risk zones across the country and efforts to locate industry and population centers in lower-risk areas. Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.