energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position-2d71ba86a8d698cd.pdf

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes China's position in international climate negotiations, highlighting the tension between its goals for economic growth, energy security, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It details China's domestic energy intensity targets and its strategic balancing act between representing developing nations and seeking advantages in a low-carbon economy.

• China's climate policy is heavily driven by the need for energy security, as the country is highly energy-intensive and increasingly dependent on imports. It currently imports half of its oil, a figure projected to reach nearly 80 percent by 2030, and has become a net importer of coal.
• China accounts for nearly 25 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and 20 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2000, China has been responsible for 57 percent of the growth rate in global emissions, and its per capita emissions now exceed the global average.
• China has implemented an ambitious domestic policy to reduce energy intensity by 20 percent during the eleventh five-year program (2006–2010), with intentions to maintain similar goals until 2020. If successful, the 2010 target alone could limit emissions by up to 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide.
• In international negotiations, China maintains a cautious position, refusing to commit to targets it cannot guarantee. It demands binding commitments from developed nations, specifically requesting that the USA reduce emissions by 25 to 40 percent from 1990 levels, and requires concrete solutions for technology and financing.
• China balances its own interests with its role as a leader for developing countries (G77), arguing that financing should primarily benefit the world's most vulnerable nations. However, there are tensions within the G77, as the least developed countries believe large, fast-growing developing nations should bear their own transition costs.
• A significant diplomatic deadlock exists between the USA and China. The US Senate is reluctant to accept emission limits that might cause job losses to countries without such limits, while the Obama administration needs an indication that China will accept commitments after 2012 and allow external verification of its emission data.
• While official positions are guarded, informal discussions suggest China might consider national goals or sector-specific measures. For the twelfth five-year program (2011–2015), China is considering a 20 percent energy intensity goal and a 16–18 percent carbon intensity reduction goal.
• There is disagreement regarding when China's emissions should peak. While some global calculations suggest a peak by 2020 to meet the two-degree target, a 2009 report by Chinese climate researchers suggests emissions could begin to fall from 2030.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position-2d71ba86a8d698cd.pdf. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Economics_of_climate_policy/energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position-2d71ba86a8d698cd.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Economics_of_climate_policy/energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position-2d71ba86a8d698cd.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Economics_of_climate_policy/energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendenergislukareiknipakinasposition2d71ba86a8d698cdpdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position-2d71ba86a8d698cd.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Economics_of_climate_policy/energislukare-i-knipa-kinas-position.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }