Brussels, 01/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On 30 June, China, the world's largest emitter of CO2, submitted to the United Nations its “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution” (INDC) to the future climate agreement. Its intention is for its emissions to peak earlier than 2030, pledging a carbon intensity reduction of between 60% and 65% by 2030, compared with 2005 levels (see EUROPE 11347). News of the submission was immediately hailed as a great step forward by Greenpeace.
With China's announcement, the world's three largest polluters - China (24% of global emissions), the United States (24%) and the EU (9%) - have now all unveiled their INDC proposals ahead of the UN conference in Paris (COP 21, 30 November-11 December). Greenpeace tempers its enthusiasm somewhat with a call to these three together to raise their levels of ambition.
China has long been on the defensive on climate change. “This announcement is the first step it has taken towards playing a more active role. Nevertheless, if we want Paris to be a success, all the players - including China and the United States - must show greater ambition”, said Li Shuo, a climate and energy policy officer with Greenpeace East Asia.
He says that the Chinese offer must only be seen as a starting point. “It does not fully reflect the significant energy shift already under way in China. Given the dramatic fall in coal consumption, the strong take-off of renewable energy and the urgent need to tackle atmospheric pollution, we believe the country could go much further than it proposed today” (our translation), he stated.
China's current target for cutting carbon intensity requires a 40-45% reduction in CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 2020. To reach the top end by 2020, China would have to cut carbon intensity by 3.1% annually in the 2020s to achieve a 60% reduction by 2030, and by 4.4% annually to hit 65%. To hit 45% carbon intensity reduction by 2020 would mean cutting carbon intensity 3.9% a year, Greenpeace points out.
The United States, the world's second largest emitter, announced a reduction of between 26% and 28% by 2025, compared with 2005 levels. The EU offer is for an emissions reduction of at least 40% by 2030 compared with 1990. (Aminata Niang)