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China has carbon neutral goals, but at local level old habits die hard
- Central government criticises some provinces for racing ahead with high-energy and high-emissions projects, and others for empty talk
- As the country’s low-carbon aspirations take time to filter down, regions struggle to balance climate targets with economic need
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China is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2060, and for its carbon emissions to peak by 2030. But its initial efforts have been undermined regionally, partly by provinces continuing to launch high-energy and high-emissions projects.
After China – the world’s biggest energy user and greenhouse gases emitter – set its ambitious targets last September, its carbon dioxide emissions in the first quarter of 2021 grew at their fastest rate in more than a decade.
Carbon dioxide emissions rose 15 per cent year on year, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, an independent organisation based in Helsinki.
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Now, the Chinese government has urged regional officials against pressing on with their polluting projects, while accusing some of paying lip service to the country’s climate targets and others of making unrealistic promises.
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What is China doing about climate change?
What is China doing about climate change?
The top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said last week that some areas had “blindly” expanded their energy-intensive and high-emissions projects, some of which were built before obtaining approval.
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