GPPi research associate publishes op-ed on China’s low-carbon revolution

On November 26, GPPi Research Associate Björn Conrad published an op-ed entitled The world’s rising green power? Europe must help Beijing’s low-carbon revolution succeed in the European Voice weekly newspaper. In the piece, Conrad argues that China’s changing approach towards climate change presents an enormous opportunity for the EU’s and China’s common fight against global warming. However, Beijing’s limited implementation capability makes the failure of China’s low-carbon revolution a distinct possibility. 

In recent years, China’s leadership has initiated momentous advances in its domestic climate change efforts, including ambitious energy efficiency targets and numerous legislative initiatives, for example regarding the use of renewable energy sources. The potential for carbon emissions is significant if all legislation were to be implemented to the letter. However, the degree of implementation is uncertain due to the central government’s notoriously weak implementation capability, overwhelming economic pressures on the provincial levels and a bureaucratic apparatus still plagued by profiteering and cronyism. 

Europe cannot afford Beijing’s domestic low-carbon quest to fail. Therefore, it is the EU’s strategic interest to assist China in its low-carbon efforts whether Beijing asks for help or not. In the piece, Conrad outlines the steps toward an effective EU-China cooperation on the domestic policy implementation of Beijing’s new climate change policy. These steps, however, will require a level of knowledge and understanding, strategic thinking and political leadership that the EU policy towards China currently does not possess.