Yang, Hong;
Huang, Xianjin;
Hu, Jianlin;
Thompson, Julian R;
Flower, Roger J;
(2022)
Achievements, challenges and global implications of China's carbon neutral pledge.
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering
, 16
, Article 111. 10.1007/s11783-022-1532-9.
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Abstract
China has been committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. China’s pledge of carbon neutrality will play an essential role in galvanising global climate action, which has been largely deferred by the Covid-19 pandemic. China’s carbon neutrality could reduce global warming by approximately 0.2–0.3 °C and save around 1.8 million people from premature death due to air pollution. Along with domestic benefits, China’s pledge of carbon neutrality is a “game-changer” for global climate action and can inspire other large carbon emitters to contribute actively to mitigate carbon emissions, particularly countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) routes. In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, it is necessary to decarbonise all sectors in China, including energy, industry, transportation, construction, and agriculture. However, this transition will be very challenging, because major technological breakthroughs and large-scale investments are required. Strong policies and implementation plans are essential, including sustainable demand, decarbonizing electricity, electrification, fuel switching, and negative emissions. In particular, if China can peak carbon emissions earlier, it can lower the costs of the carbon neutral transition and make it easier to do so over a longer time horizon. China’s pledge of carbon neutrality by 2060 and recent pledges at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) are significant contributions and critical steps for global climate action. However, countries worldwide need to achieve carbon neutrality to keep the global temperature from growing beyond the level that will cause catastrophic damages globally.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Achievements, challenges and global implications of China's carbon neutral pledge |
| Location: | China |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11783-022-1532-9 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1532-9 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Carbon neutrality, Carbon peak, Renewable energy, Negative emission, Carbon capture, Utilisation and storage, Nature-based solution |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10152717 |
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