GPPi fellow to publish article on China’s stance in international climate negotiations in The China Quarterly

The China Quarterly, a scholarly journal, has accepted for publication an article by GPPi fellow Björn Conrad on China’s position at the 2009 climate change negotiations in Copenhagen. The article is titled China in Copenhagen – Reconciling the ​“Beijing Climate Revolution” and the ​“Copenhagen Climate Obstinacy.” The China Quarterly will release the article in the near future, but as of December 2011, one can view an advance version of the piece.

In the article, Conrad uses the eventful 2009 UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen to illustrate China’s fundamental interests in the climate policy arena and its positions on key political differences, from emission reduction targets and climate justice to transparency concerns and technology transfer.

Conrad sets out to explain the contradiction between the astonishing dynamic of China’s domestic climate policy agenda and its seemingly tenacious position in international climate negotiations. He also discusses the inconsistencies of China’s overall approach to climate change that weakened its negotiating position in Copenhagen, prevented China from achieving its central objectives and ultimately led to the obstinate stance that China took during the final phase of the negotiations.