Page 11 - Gi_November2020

international news

CHINA’S CARBON PLEDGE REVIVES

HOPES OF A CLIMATE GAME CHANGE

record. The announcement has since term, in the hope that technological
been hailed as a major step forward in breakthroughs will deliver rapid gains
international negotiations over how later, experts warn.
to slow global warming, reports the “The devil will be in the details and
Financial Times. China should set more specific near-term
“It shows real leadership, not just a targets and an earlier peaking date,”
zero-sum back-and-forth over who does said Helen Mountford, Vice President
what first,” said Dimitri de Boer, chief for Climate and Economics at the World
China representative of ClientEarth, a Resources Institute, a non-governmental
non-governmental organisation focused organisation, in a statement.
on environmental law. Aside from the 2060 goal, Mr Xi also
“By announcing now, instead of pledged China would hit peak carbon
waiting for the US election, China gains dioxide emissions “before” 2030, but
CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING a lot of friends in Europe and some in did not specify a year. Its previous goal
the US, too. It actually is a game changer had been “around” 2030.
A PLEDGE BY China to be carbon on a geopolitical level,” he said. Until Despite Mr Xi’s calls for a “revolution”
neutral by 2060 has revived hopes in now, many national and multilateral to speed up “green development”, Beijing
Beijing’s commitment to global climate discussions on emissions and climate has this year approved coal fired power
change goals, but left unanswered targets had been put on hold due to the plants at the fastest pace since 2015.
questions over how the world’s largest coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, the government
emitter can achieve the ambitious target. But China’s path towards cutting has pledged to end subsidies for new
The declaration by Xi Jinping, China’s emissions is still unclear. The 40-year onshore wind installations by 2021
President, at the UN General Assembly timeframe to reach near zero carbon and has halved support for solar power
came after Donald Trump had earlier dioxide emissions also leaves open the plans this year, a trend that throws into
criticised Beijing’s environmental possibility of delayed action in the short doubt the future pace of adoption.

OPPONENTS CRITICISE AUSTRALIA’S colleagues, describing government
intervention as a substitute for
$18BN BET ON EMISSIONS TECHNOLOGY a market mechanism, and the
Coalition’s much-vaunted gas-
led recovery, as “crazy” and “mad
AUSTRALIA’S ENERGY MINISTER emissions technology is “what will ideology” and “bonkers”.
Angus Taylor says the Morrison move the dial”. Turnbull told the ABC the Liberals
government will develop an emissions The minister characterised the did not generally favour market
reduction target for 2035, but likely not government’s approach, which intervention as a policy approach, and
reveal it before the next federal election. prioritises taxpayer investments in he said “a green new deal, renewable-
The minister launched the first annual particular technologies, with funding led economic stimulus, would be
statement under the government’s of $18 billion over a decade, as betting much more effective than focusing on
technology roadmap, which is the on the future. “The nature of R&D what is a very expensive fuel in gas”.
Coalition’s new policy framework for portfolios is that you have to place bets. Taylor launched the first report
long-term emissions reduction. We’re placing a bet on a portfolio here.” in the technology roadmap at
The Morrison government has However, former Prime Minister the National Press Club. Under
identified “clean” hydrogen, energy Malcolm Turnbull has been scathing questioning, the minister told
storage, “low carbon” steel and about the approach of his former journalists the government would
aluminium, carbon capture and storage develop an emissions reduction target
and soil carbon as priority technologies for 2035 as required under the Paris
slated for investment as part of the agreement “in a couple of years’ time”.
roadmap, reports The Guardian. The Clean Energy Council’s Chief
But the government continues to Executive, Kane Thornton, said the
resist pressure to sign up to a target of government was right to prioritise
net zero emissions by 2050 – a concrete clean hydrogen, energy storage and
and increasingly uncontroversial green steel, “however, it is a missed
abatement target that would give its opportunity not to prioritise the
roadmap a clear destination. Taylor THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS RESISTED PRESSURE increased and better use of Australia’s
has said his working definition of low- TO AGREE A NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 TARGET wind and solar resources”.

11

15/10/2020 11:09
News.indd 6
News.indd 6 15/10/2020 11:09