From "Harmony" to a "Dream": China's Evolving Position on Climate Change

Abstract

The 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21) saw China take a prominent role in conjunction with many developed countries in pushing for greater cuts in emissions and giving impetus to a push towards renewable energy. This position was in contrast to COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, where China had stressed the distinction between the needs of developing countries to have greater flexibility in the shift away from fossil fuels. Indeed, in the intervening years between COP15 and COP21, China shifted to become a driver of ambitious targets and emissions goals. China’s leading role at COP21 in Paris reflected a domestic push to transform their economy to a focus on “green” energy as an integral part of economic strategy. The governing Chinese Communist Party is focused on maturing the Chinese economy to develop a larger service sector. Consequently, the government is shifting the economy away from labour-intensive industries towards high-tech industries such as the renewable sector. Along with the pure economic rationale underpinning the shift to green energy, there is also the opportunity to reinforce the government’s legitimacy as many younger Chinese place greater onus on the government to ensure improved social and environmental outcomes. In short, a large-scale shift to renewables suits the Chinese Communist Party’s objectives, in both economic and political terms.