Download - Chinese perspective on climate change regulation BIICL Annual Conference 17 October, 2008, London
Chinese perspective on climate change regulation
BIICL Annual Conference
17 October, 2008, London
Overview
• China’s General Position on Climate Change
• What China has done, challenges and solution
• Legal framework
• Conclusion
I. General Position
• Climate change is mainly caused by GHG emission from fossil fuels by the developed countries in their industrialization process. They have inescapable responsibilities.
• They shall lead to reduce GHG after 2012 according to the CBDR principle
• And support the developing countries in adaptation, funding, technology and capacity building
• The developing countries are victims.
• Difficult to cope with extreme weather conditions like draught, flooding, typhoon
• Small Island States facing rising sea level
• International community should adequately address the needs of poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries
“Nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing country Parties in the
context of sustainable development, supported and enabled by technology,
financing and capacity-building, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable
manner”
--Bali Action Plan
What China has done
• Optimize economic structureService sector: 30% -> 40%
• Energy efficiency– Energy consumption per 10,000 yuan: 2.68 ton coal e
quivalent (1990) to 1.43 ton (2005), -4.1% per annum– From 1980-2006, energy consumption increased 5.6
% per annum, while GDP increased by 9.8% per annum
– From 1990-2004, China CO2 intensity dropped 49.5% vs. 16.1% of OECD
• Renewable/Alternative energy– Coal in primary energy consumption decrease
d from 72.2% (1980) to 69.4% (2006)– Other forms of energy from 27.8% to 30.6%
• Renewables and nuclear from 4.0% to 7.2%
• Forestry– 13.9% (1990) to 18.2% (2005)e.g., a project in the west regions to restore far
mland to forestry and grassland since 1999 involves 24 mi ha and 124 million farmers
Challenges
• China is still a developing country– 1.3 billion people in the process of industrialization
(emission fro survival)– Economic growth tilted to investment and export, with
consumption less than 40% of GDP (“imbedded emission” 23-40% )
– Service sector at 40%, lower than global average of 60%
– Coal-based energy structure– Low technological level, backward infrastructure
• 75% rivers are polluted
• 60% cities have air pollution
• Snow storm early this year
• Drought and flooding
• Huge pressure on the eco and social-economic systems
Solution: “Scientific Approach of Development”
• Sustainable Development
• Resource-saving, environmental friendly society
• Ecological civilization
• New path of industrialization
China’s Climate Change Programme (2007)
By 2010 (11th five-year plan):
• Energy efficiency: 20% (compared w/ 2005)
• Renewables: 10%
• Forestry: 20%
Projected reduction in 2010 (in million tons CO2)
Hydro power 500
Nuclear 50
Advanced coal-fired power
110
Coal-bed methane 200
Biomass, wind, solar, thermal
90
Ten key energy saving projects
550
total 1500
• State Council set up energy saving and emission reduction leading group, chaired by Premier – (1990 State climate change coordination
group)
Legal framework- Laws
Renewable energy law (2005)• Targets: 2010: 10%, 2020: 15%• High tariff, purchased by grids, cost-sharing• Special fund, concessional loans, tax rebates
Progress:– Renewable energy reached 8.5% in 2007– Wind energy increased 2.3 times in 2007– Largest installation of solar water heaters– Largest producer of PV battery– 16% of electricity from hydro– From 2005-2006, investment in clean technol
ogy increased by 147%, reaching $ 420 mn
Law on Energy Saving (1997, re 2007): fundamental policy
– Includes transport, building, public institutions– Binding targets set by provincial govts, report annual
ly to the State Council,– Energy saving evaluation for investments– elimination of backward technology– Product labeling– compulsory targets for building, vehicles– Economic incentives (tax, loans)
• 2006: 1.2%
• 2007: 3.3%
• 2008-2010: 5.8%
Other laws:– Recycling economy promotion, construction, e
lectricity generation, coal, environmental evaluation, environment protection, clean production, forestry, etc
Legal framework -Regulations
• Regulation on Energy Saving of Civil Building (2008)– Encourage use of solar and thermal – New flats to show energy consumption
indicator– Government funding for energy saving in
building sector
• Regulation on energy saving in public buildings (2008)
• Measures for Operation and Management of Clean Development Mechanism Projects in China(2005.11.29)·
• Law of the People's Republic of China on Desert Prevention and Transformation(2003.09.18)·
• Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China(2003.09.18)·
• Law of the People's Republic of China on the Coal Industry(2003.09.18)
• Mineral Resources Law of the People's Republic of China(2003.09.18)·
• Law on Energy Conservation of the People's Republic of China(2003.09.02)·
• Cleaner Production Promotion Law(2003.02.10)
• China's Scientific & Technological Actions on Climate Change (Full text)(2007.06.30)
• The Renewable Energy Law (2005.11.09)• Forest Law (2004.03.09)·• The 10th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation and R
esources Comprehensive Utilization(2003.11.05)·
• The 10th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Environmental Protection Industry(2003.11.05)
• Land Administration (2003.09.18)·• Grassland Law (2003.09.18)·• Flood Control Law (2003.09.18)·
• Law on Science and Technology Progress(2003.09.18)·• Law on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology(20
03.09.18)·
• Law on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievement(2003.09.18)·
• Law on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution(2003.09.18)·
• Environmental Protection Law (2003.09.18)·• Electric Power Law (2003.09.18)·• Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Poll
ution by Solid Waste(2003.09.18)
Conclusion
• China is ready to promote int’l cooperation in climate change
• Contribute to climate change according to its capabilities, in light of the principle set by UNFCCC
• Learn from other countries in climate policy and legal framework
Thank you!