Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 43 2021

AsiaElec EMISSIONS AsiaElec

China maintains 2060 date for

carbon neutrality

ASIA CHINA aims to reach peak emissions before To achieve its 2030 and 2060 targets, Beijing
2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before aims to lower CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by
2060, although it has refused to commit to any over 65% from the 2005 level, to raise the share of
earlier dates. non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption
China included the revised targets in its to around 25%, to increase the forest stock vol-
updated NDC, which is submitted to the ume by 6bn cubic metres from the 2005 level. It
UNFCCC on October 28 ahead of the COP26 also aims to bring total installed capacity of wind
summit in Glasgow. and solar to over 1.2mn MW by 2030.
The update contains nothing new in terms However, Greenpeace was critical of Beijing’s
of targets, and is a major disappointment ahead unambitious targets and disappointed that it did
of COP26, as any stronger targets from Beijing not bring its 2030 and 2060 target dates forward.
would have served as a major boost to hopes of “China’s decision on its NDC casts a shadow
meeting the global 1.5C degree target. on the global climate effort. In light of the
The document said that at home, the gov- domestic economic uncertainties, the country
ernment would strictly control coal-fired appears hesitant to embrace stronger near-term
power projects, and strictly limit the increase targets, and missed an opportunity to demon-
in coal consumption over the 14th Five-Year strate ambition,” said Greenpeace’s Li Shuo.
Plan period and phase it down in the 15th FYP “Beijing needs to come up with stronger
period. implementation plans to ensure an emission
Secondly, it committed not to build any new peak before 2025.”
coal-fired power projects abroad, and to support “China’s choice epitomises the lack of deter-
developing countries in developing green and mination to step up action among major econ-
low-carbon energy. omies. It reflects Beijing’s mistrust of the US’
The NDC also announced that China would ability to fulfil its carbon & finance targets.
take measures to effectively curb methane There’s real fear that Washington’s empty words
emissions from coal. Meanwhile, the country’s will intensify an unfair global climate order,” Li
national carbon market will start trading. said.™

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