Focus on Arts and Ecology

In a new article in the journal China Development Observer, the National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), a government thinktank, provided pathways for China to update its Paris Agreement goals. The thinktank writes that China has made strong progress toward its 2020 goals – in some cases already exceeding them – which puts the country in a good position to meet its current 2030 goals listed in its nationally determined contribution (NDC). In 2020, China has to report on its climate progress and update its NDC according to the Paris Agreement.

The thinktank says that strengthening the NDC would demonstrate China’s role as a responsible world power and help further the domestic green transition. However, it could also lead the international community to think that China’s original NDC was too lax, raising expectations and disadvantaging China in future negotiations. 

The thinktank recommends the government to conduct further study on paths forward, such as setting an earlier carbon emissions peaking year and a more aggressive carbon intensity reduction goal. The article also suggests that China should consider whether to issue a joint declaration with other countries about the updating of its NDC as it did with the US in the lead up to the Paris climate summit in 2015.