NRDC~Greening China through International Cooperation and Improved Transparency
1. Greening China: Opportunities for international cooperation and improved transparency Michael davidson Natural resources defense council April 2011
2. About the Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC’s purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends. We use law, science and the support of 1.3 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. We have 5 offices in the U.S. and an office in Beijing, China
3. Accelerating the Greening of China 15 years on the ground in China Works with Chinese actors in government, academia, non-governmental organizations, and corporations NRDC was the first international environmental organization to establishclean energy and green building programs in China. Focus areas: Industrial energy efficiency Green buildings Sustainable Cities Renewable Energy Policy Environmental laws, transparency, governance Greening multinational corporations supply chain
10. Bad Air: a times series Tianjin conference center
11. China Takes on Climate: China’s OpportunityClean Energy RaceThe Next Five Years
12. “Is there any hope, if most nations delude themselves with greenwash, of stopping rule by fossil fuel interests? Yes. China is the best hope.” – Jim Hansen, South China Morning Post, Nov 2, 2010
13. China’s Opportunity 2.4 Gt CO2 2.4 Gt CO2 Source: China’s Green Revolution, McKinsey and Co., 2009
14. The Clean Energy Race New investments (2004-2010) CHINA U.S. Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance
15. The Clean Energy Race (2) CHINA U.S. Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance
16. China’s Leading Indicators in Green Development Wind: Leads in total wind energy capacity; 3 of the top 10 wind companies Solar: 6 of the top 10 solar companies Smart growth: 13pilot low-carbon cities and provinces Smart grid: Largest smart grid investor in the world Transportation: Raising efficiency standards, increase fleet of hybrid/electric cars
17. The Last Thirty Years Energy Intensity (1978-2015) Source: IEA CO2 Highlights, 2009; The Climate Group
18. And The Next Five Years… Climate Change and New Energy are strategic priorities $760 billion in new energy investment by 2020 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) Reduce energy intensity, carbon intensity Increase share of renewables in energy mix Develop new strategic industries in clean energy and environmental protection Develop market mechanisms: environmental/carbon tax and cap-and-trade pilots National Climate Change Law and National Energy Law
19. Climate Negotiations In the Copenhagen Accord, China agreed to major actions on climate: Reduce carbon intensity by 40-45% from 2005 levels by 2020 Increase non-fossil energy usage to around 15% of primary energy consumption by 2020 Increase forest coverage by 40 million hectares from 2005 levels by 2020 In Cancun, China helped advance proposals on: technology transfer climate financing transparency of developed and developing country commitments and actions reducing deforestation
20. Climate Negotiations (2) Specifically, the Cancun Agreements… Require developed countries to enhance monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of emissions and financial assistance Require developing countries to submit national inventories of actions and emissions every two years Establish international consultation and analysis (ICA) of these actions, creating a formal dialogue to discuss these reports Which China agreed to, because… China is meeting ambitious domestic commitments and deserves credit Increased information exchange strengthens the international system and builds confidence China’s experiences with low-carbon development provide useful models for other developing countries
22. China’s Environmental Enforcement Environmental legal system: criticized for weak enforcement and vague laws Target responsibility system: detailed, law-like guidelines; potential incentives to falsify data Benefits of transparency in the U.S.: Empower media and public as environmental watchdogs Toxics release inventories engage consumers, banks, corporations Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests have uncovered countless violations
23. How well are existing laws enforced? Pollution Information Transparency Index (PITI) 2008: open environmental information measures take effect Rated 113 cities on disclosure performance Improvements in 2010: 82 0f 113 (73% of Chinese cities) All-star city of best practices (95.3 pts) shows transparency is possible: detailed emissions data lists of enterprise violations prompt response to public information requests
24. What’s in a target? 11th Five-Year Plan, 20% Energy Intensity Target: Policies established to improve industrial, power sector, building, transportation efficiency WenJiabao, May 2010: Will use “iron hand” to meet target Overzealous local leaders: blackouts, curtailing production Source: “Implementation Plan of Evaluation System of Energy Consumption per Unit GDP,” November 17, 2007
25. Why Does This Matter Int’ly? Implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions Preparation of National GHG Inventory Implementation of Domestic MRV Procedures Domestic Activities National Communication UNFCCC Processes International Consultation and Analysis Source: Clare Breidenich
27. Jim Hansen again…“China cannot stabilize Earth’s climate alone. If, as I hope, they conclude that a rising carbon fee is in their interest, the question will become: can they find a sufficient number…who will abandon greenwash and participate in effective policy?”
28. U.S.-China Clean Energy Cooperation Pres. Obama visits China, Nov 2009 Agreement to establish Clean Energy Research Centers (CERC) Action plans on energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicles… Energy Cooperation Program (AmCham-led) Pres. Hu visits U.S., Jan 2011 $ billions in U.S.-China clean energy business ventures EV, smart growth demonstration projects CERC work plans finalized
29. Building Efficiency CERC Complement two other CERCs – EV, advanced coal $50+ mil in joint U.S.-China public-private funds Industry cost share partners Technology R&D: materials, lighting, insulation… Monitoring/Simulation Analysis: markets, benchmarking, energy use/behavior
30. ComplementaryChallenges & Opportunities China Technical hurdles (25% of wind not connected, lower capacity factors) China’s “IP of scale” Key link in global supply chain U.S. Deployment gap: in 2010, U.S. trails China by even greater margin (e.g., in new wind, 5GW to 17GW) World leader in venture capital (20 times UK spending) Wealth of experience with legal frameworks
31. Looking Ahead China and U.S. racing ahead together by… Strengthening China-U.S. energy and environment partnerships, including CERCs; implement MOUs Taking concrete steps at home to reduce emissions Actively participating in international response to global warming
32. Thank You! 谢谢！ Contact: Michael Davidson (mdavidson<at>nrdc.org) switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mdavidson/ Read all our China blogs: switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/issues/greening_china/
34. 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) Strategic Emerging Industries: energy-saving and environmental protection technology, new energy, biotech, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials and new-energy cars Targets:
