As early as the beginning of this year, Professor He Jiankun had already analyzed the new situation of global climate governance and put forward suggestions on China's role and countermeasures in an exclusive interview with our reporter. Under the increasingly urgent and realistic situation of addressing climate change, He Jiankun said that China should play a leading role as a major country, actively implement the national strategy to address climate change and strengthen the low-carbon transformation of energy and economy. The following is the original text of the interview, hoping to help readers better understand the new domestic situation of China’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Four years ago, the United Nations achieved the Paris Agreement. Human has reached a new stage of curbing climate warming. The international society generally supposed that this new global agreement would change the future of human beings. It would be beneficial to whole humans and later generations.
Four years ago, the United Nations achieved the Paris Agreement. Human has reached a new stage of curbing climate warming. The international society generally supposed that this new global agreement would change the future of human beings. It would be beneficial to whole humans and later generations.
What's the new situation when the world faces climate change? How could China play a major country's leading role? How to set the low-carbon pathway of our future? Professor He Jiankun, Director of the Academic Committee of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University, former Executive Vice President of Tsinghua University, and Chair of the Academic Committee of this publication, recently shared his thought with our magazines about the change of reacting climate in the new situation. He stated that in the face of increasing uncertainty and urgency in global climate governance, actively promoting domestic economic low-carbon transformation and coordinating sustainable domestic development with international climate negotiations are important tasks for China at present.
The reality and urgency of addressing climate change have become more evident. In the past, news reports about climate warming often depicted events happening on distant horizons. However, in 2019, extreme weather events influenced by climate change seemed to occur everywhere. Floods, storms, and wildfires brought severe disruption and devastation from southern Africa to North America, Australia, and Asia to Europe. He Jiankun believes that the increasing frequency and intensity of global extreme weather events exacerbate the current climate governance's urgency.
He stated that the negative impact brought by climate change on natural ecology and human society is coming at a faster speed, and the scope of impact is wider and with greater intensity than previously imagined. Events like the massive wildfires in Australia and snowstorms in New York... these frequent extreme weather events are continuously attracting attention from society as a whole, and the world is increasingly emphasizing the assessment and prevention of climate risks.' With the growing global awareness of climate risks, He Jiankun believes that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C further reinforces the urgency of global climate change mitigation.
The report, which was published in October 2018, was named ''last warning' for humans by the media. It emphasized that the targets for controlling global warming should be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius instead of 2 degrees Celsius. This would avoid and reduce a series of impacts caused by climate change. Meanwhile, the report pointed out that it is feasible technically to control global warming within 1.5 degrees, but the cost would increase by 300% to 400% in comparison with the goal of 2 Celsius degree, and the process of reducing emissions is more urgent, which means global carbon emission must be reduced by 45% by 2030. Then, the world would achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, which is equal to 'zero-emission.' He Jiankun introduces, "According to the current emission reduction path under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement, it is simply not enough to achieve the 1.5°C target. From 2030 to 2052, the global temperature rise is about to reach 1.5°C, and the end of this century will An increase of about 2.7°C."
The call to strengthen the 1.5°C target is growing stronger. Over the past year, whether at the UN Climate Action Summit in September or the Madrid Climate Change Conference in December, there has been an increasing demand to strengthen the 1.5°C target. Developed countries, small island developing states, least developed countries, and African countries, which are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, are all pushing for the goal of keeping global temperature rise within 1.5°C. He Jiankun believes that the primary task of COP25 is to finalize the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement and to encourage all parties to strengthen and update their nationally determined contributions.
The call to strengthen the 1.5°C target is growing stronger. Over the past year, whether at the UN Climate Action Summit in September or the Madrid Climate Change Conference in December, there has been an increasing demand to strengthen the 1.5°C target. Developed countries, small island developing states, least developed countries, and African countries, which are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, are all pushing for the goal of keeping global temperature rise within 1.5°C. He Jiankun believes that the primary task of COP25 is to finalize the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement and to encourage all parties to strengthen and update their nationally determined contributions.
Furthermore, in the current global landscape of unprecedented changes, the positions of certain developed countries emphasizing unilateralism, protectionism, and prioritizing their own interests have become increasingly prominent in climate negotiations. He Jiankun believes this presents a significant new challenge to global climate governance. "Some developed countries exhibit a strong and inflexible stance in climate negotiations, lacking constructiveness and flexibility. They primarily focus on advancing the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 while neglecting the balanced and effective progress in areas such as mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, capacity-building, and transparency in current global cooperative actions. This has also resulted in the Madrid Climate Change Conference not achieving the expected outcomes."
He said that in order to promote the 'Paris Agreement' to be implemented comprehensively, It is necessary to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement and comprehensively implement and promote balance in their implementation. "To mobilize global action to mitigate climate change, it is necessary to find a balance between global common goals and the interests of all parties. Consideration should be given to the urgent requirements of sustainable development in different countries and development stages and the interests involved in addressing climate change. It is not feasible to solely emphasize one's own unilateral intentions and demands."
Coordinating relations among all parties and playing a leading role In the new situation of global climate governance, how should China play a leading role as a major country? This is a question that many people care about. In this regard, He Jiankun replied: "To lead the process of climate change is to be guided by the common interests of the world, coordinate the relationship between all parties, find the meeting point of the interests of all parties, jointly promote the construction of global ecological civilization, and promote the construction of a global climate governance system that is fair, just, cooperative and win-win.”
Due to the lack of consensus among the parties on the substantive content or wording of certain provisions, the unfinished business from COP25 negotiations will be included in the agenda of the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, which has been postponed to October 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The complex international geopolitical landscape and internal situation of the European Union are intertwined with the heavy tasks of COP26, posing significant challenges for the host country, the United Kingdom, and the co-host country, Italy. This brings considerable uncertainty to the process and outcomes of the conference. He Jiankun points out that constructive communication and coordination among major countries are crucial for the success of COP26.
"China has played an important role in adopting and implementing the Paris Agreement. At the end of 2014, the heads of state of China and the United States issued a joint statement on climate change, laying the foundation for the principles, institutional arrangements, and action processes of the Paris Agreement. Subsequently, China, the host country France, and the European Union also issued joint statements, reaching a consensus on core and key issues in the global response to climate change."
He Jiankun emphasized, "Climate negotiations are a process of mutual coordination and compromise. If progress is to be made, it is necessary to find a result that, although not entirely satisfactory to all parties, is acceptable to all parties, coordinating their demands and advancing global cooperation overall. During the COP26 conference, all parties need to strengthen their confidence in the multilateral process and actively engage in constructive participation. China also needs to enhance communication with all parties, particularly with the host country, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, to facilitate the success of the conference."
2020 is a crucial juncture for global climate governance. According to the Paris Agreement, each contracting party must report and update their nationally determined contributions by 2020 and submit long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies for 2050. He Jiankun stated, 'What needs to be done domestically is to implement the national strategy for addressing climate change and strengthen the low-carbon transformation of energy and the economy.' Specifically, he believes that there are three key tasks at hand: first, setting ambitious energy-saving and carbon reduction targets and action plans in the 14th Five-Year Plan; second, implementing and reinforcing 2030 nationally determined contributions and actions; third, formulating and implementing the 2050 low-carbon emission development strategy.。
2020 is a crucial juncture for global climate governance. According to the Paris Agreement, each contracting party must report and update their nationally determined contributions by 2020 and submit long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies for 2050. He Jiankun stated, 'What needs to be done domestically is to implement the national strategy for addressing climate change and strengthen the low-carbon transformation of energy and the economy.' Specifically, he believes that there are three key tasks at hand: first, setting ambitious energy-saving and carbon reduction targets and action plans in the 14th Five-Year Plan; second, implementing and reinforcing 2030 nationally determined contributions and actions; third, formulating and implementing the 2050 low-carbon emission development strategy.
In addition, He Jiankun also points out that we should consider the global low-carbon transition trend in addressing climate change as an opportunity for China's sustainable development. This includes promoting the energy revolution and green, low-carbon, and circular development of the economy, enhancing the international competitiveness of advanced low-carbon technologies and the low-carbon economy. It is an important aspect of enhancing comprehensive national strength and international influence. "As China's comprehensive national strength continues to grow, it also needs to shoulder increasing global governance responsibilities. When formulating long-term low-carbon development goals, we must take the protection of the Earth's ecological security and contribution to the progress of all humanity as important guiding principles. We should adhere to Xi Jinping's ecological civilization ideology, promote global ecological civilization construction, and build a community with a shared future for humanity, making new contributions to the progress of all humanity."
In addition, He Jiankun also points out that we should consider the global low-carbon transition trend in addressing climate change as an opportunity for China's sustainable development. This includes promoting the energy revolution and green, low-carbon, and circular development of the economy, enhancing the international competitiveness of advanced low-carbon technologies and the low-carbon economy. It is an important aspect of enhancing comprehensive national strength and international influence. "As China's comprehensive national strength continues to grow, it also needs to shoulder increasing global governance responsibilities. When formulating long-term low-carbon development goals, we must take the protection of the Earth's ecological security and contribution to the progress of all humanity as important guiding principles. We should adhere to Xi Jinping's ecological civilization ideology, promote global ecological civilization construction, and build a community with a shared future for humanity, making new contributions to the progress of all humanity."
