COP26: China’s leaders make climate change position clear but what do the people think?
- Study last year shows climate change is not a priority for Chinese compared with air and water pollution, but they are growing more concerned about it
- The support of its population, especially at grass-roots level, is key to China hitting its low-carbon target, and to stop relying on coal in particular
A 2018 survey by the Innovative Green Development programme, a Chinese think tank, was even more revealing. When asked who should play a bigger role in tackling global warming, most of the 2,000 respondents from 20 Chinese cities pointed to the government, followed by the media, environmental groups, individuals and enterprises.
Xi calls on countries to fight climate change, but makes no new commitments
While the study and polls offer answers for the first question, it is also clear that for most Chinese people, climate change is an important but remote issue and it largely remains a headache for the government alone.
Despite floods, typhoons and heatwaves, global warming does not usually pose an immediate risk to their lives compared to smog, which contributes to an estimated 1.1 million premature deaths every year.
The rise of climate awareness among the Chinese public came as the leadership in Beijing realised the limits of the country’s energy-intensive, high-polluting development model, with China’s carbon dioxide output more than tripling since 2000.
It also underlines the dilemma in the authoritarian state, which has over the years cracked down on environmental activists and grass-roots groups.
While silencing dissent and activism may have helped authorities guard against protests and the risk of instability, and boost confidence in their governance and efficiency, it has inevitably tainted China’s global image and raised questions about Beijing’s climate commitments.
Handy guide to key facts and terms at COP26 Glasgow
Six years ago, President Xi Jinping attended the Paris climate summit, with pledges to set aside the “zero-sum” mindset on climate change and galvanise greater public support and participation at home. As China tries to convince the world about pledges that China would hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2060, it has yet to offer clues about how it plans to enlist public support, especially from private businesses.
The active support of its population, especially at grass-roots level, will be key to China realising its low-carbon ambition and its plan to quit its coal reliance in particular, which many say would put Beijing in a leadership position. As China produces nearly 30 per cent of global emissions, more than the United States and European Union combined, the world cannot afford to see China fail.