Public transport in Paris was all free on Nov. 29. Posters about the United Nations Climate Change Conference were hanging everywhere in the metro, with green logo on the buses, enthusiastic faces of volunteers, and over 100 national flags, which reminded us that this conference will be held soon.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will present at the opening ceremony in Paris, which will be the first time for China’s top leader to attend such conference. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is very important. As the significant point to deal with climate change by the world, the conference in Paris will determine the responsibilities of the international community after 2020. Climate negotiation is related to vital interests of each country, and each party pays close attention to how to guarantee the openness and fairness.
Key point 1: whether to reach a “historic” and new agreement as scheduled
Although the meeting has not opened yet, delegations of some countries arrived in Paris one week in advance. “Important address to be made by Chinese President Xi will positively enhance the meeting.” Xie Zhenhua, special representative of China’s climate change affairs, and also vice director of National Development and Reform Commission, told the journalist in the interview for this conference on Nov. 29 that each party is looking forward to reaching a satisfied agreement.
Recalling the historic course of the conference, each negotiation has been accompanied with disputes, compromises and consensuses. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the Convention) was signed in 1992, and the contracting parties have held a meeting annually since 1995. The world is changing, and climate agreements are also in progress from the Convention to Kyoto Protocol, from Bail Roadmap to the Copenhagen Agreement, and from the meeting at Cancun to this conference in Paris.
Gan Feng, special representative for climate change negotiation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, believes that Paris Agreement will be an important symbol for the turning point; the forced emission reduction “from the top to bottom” is the global pattern to deal with climate change specified in the Kyoto Protocol, but it will transform to the pattern of “from the bottom to top”. Currently, over 160 countries have submitted the documents of “nation’s autonomous contributions”, showing the confidence of each party. Su Wei, chief negotiation representative of China’s delegation, and also director of Climate Department of National Development and Reform Commission, told the journalist in Paris on Nov. 29 that “nation’s autonomous contributions” will become a significant part of the Paris Agreement, showing the confidence and important activities of each country to deal with the climate change. Based on the pre-meeting, each party is positive towards this conference, also with disputes mainly in “common but different responsibilities”.
Key point 2: how to solve disputes, showing “common but different responsibilities”
“Just like a race, some cars have run far away, but some just start off. It is not suitable or fair to limit the speed with the same standard.” The said metaphor reflects the significance of the principle of “common but different responsibilities”. Developed and developing countries have different historic responsibilities in the climate change. Implementing the important principles of common but different responsibilities, fairness and capabilities is the common target for most developing countries.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had proposed that developed countries should reduce emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, and provide 100 billion US dollars support for developing countries each year by 2020, as well as establish technologies transfer mechanism. “If a similar consensus is reached in Paris agreement, the meeting will be a milestone,” said Xie Zhenhua.
Only by seeking common points while reserving difference could the globe exert joint efforts toward the same goal. Adhering to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” suggests that it is acceptable for developing countries to make contribution within their abilities and responsibilities. “But ‘common responsibilities’ is emphasized as well, which means that no country should stand by and does nothing to assume its own responsibility in tackling climate change,” said Su Wei.
Key point 3: whether “2 degrees Centigrade” goal could be specified
“From Nov. 30, the meeting will enter intense consultation stage and the pace will become increasingly strained, with many consultations to last till midnight.” In Su Wei’s opinion, a very important part of Paris agreement is to form the restriction mechanism through setting the“2 degrees Centigrade” goal.
To limit the increase in surface temperature within 2 degrees Centigrade is an important goal accepted by the international community, and it relates to human development. Currently, over 160 countries have submitted emission reduction goals for 2020 to 2030. But based on the Emission Gap Report released by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently, after aggregating all the emission reduction goals, the total emission equivalent to approximately 4-6 billion tons of carbon will be cut. But it is still far from emission reduction demand which “2 degrees Centigrade” requires, with a gap of 12 billion tons.
Nicholas Stern, professor at London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom, pointed out that specific action should be taken in realizing this goal. From now on till 2050, the world’s urban population will increase by 3.5 to 6 billion. It is preliminarily estimated that investment amounted to 60 trillion yuan will be put into infrastructure each year. Supposing this investment mount are all used for low carbon facilities in the next 15 years, it will make significant contribution to emissions reduction. Su Wei indicated that though there is still distance between action and imagination, enhanced cooperation among countries may explore huge potential. China has sent authoritative experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and other fields in its delegation to the meeting, and they will offer advices and suggestions.
Key Point 4: how developed countries will realize their funding commitment
“Funding issue is another important factor deciding whether Paris Climate Change Conference will be successful or not,” said Xie Zhenhua, “developed countries are expected to fulfill their promises, and this is the basis of international political mutual trust in dealing with climate change”.
OECD report on climate change financing issued in this October pointed out that the world's richest countries mobilized 61.8 billion US dollars in public and private funds in 2014 to developing countries as climate finance. This amount is higher than 52.2 billion recorded in 2013, but still far from the promised 100 billion US dollars.
In the view of experts, how to ensure the achievement of the goal of 100 billion US dollars each year by 2020, and improve the proportion of public funds as well as increase support on climate adaption, and how to determine financial support program after 2020 are all focuses on the Paris meeting.
Key point 5: What will China contribute
China and the U.S. had made joint statement on tackling climate change before this meeting was convened. It was the first time that the U.S. put forward reducing the greenhouse gas emission by 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025 when compared with 2005, while it previously promised to cut it by 17 percent by 2020. China stated that China’s carbon emission was expected to reach the peak by 2030 for the first time and the proportion of non-fossil energy in primary energy would increase to 20 percent by 2030.
According to the data released by the World Bank Group, the amount of energy conservation of China has taken up 52 percent in the world over the past 20 years. “The figure might reach over 52 percent in recent two years.” Xie Zhenhua indicated that the amount in China occupied more than half of the global energy conservation. China announced that it would establish 20 billion yuan of South-South cooperation fund for climate change to support other developing countries.
It is learnt that China is determined to strive for the peak in carbon emission in advance around 2030. In addition, it will make efforts to reduce the carbon intensity by 60 percent to 65 percent by 2030 when compared with 2005, the proportion of non-fossil energy in primary energy would increase to about 20 percent and forest growing stock will increase by 4.5 billion cubic meters.
The Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which just concluded, put forward five concepts including green development. Su Wei disclosed that China has conducted carbon emission permit trading pilot in seven provinces and cities aiming to activate the unified carbon market in 2017. With the transformation and upgrading of Chinese economic structure, energy conservation and emission reduction will enjoy huge potential.
Translated by Jelly Yi and Adam Zhang
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