China

China falls 13 places to 51st in this year’s CCPI and receives an overall very low rating. In the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, the country ranks very low. However, because of its strong renewable energy development over the past years, China rates high in the Renewable Energy category. For Climate Policy, it receives a medium.

Long-term climate policies are not concrete enough

China has committed to its carbon emissions peaking by 2030 and the country’s achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. The CCPI experts note that the government’s strategies are focused on the medium-term goal of peaking carbon and its long-term policies are not concrete enough. Still, current China’s GHG per capita and 2030 target are not aligned with a well-below-2°C trajectory.

China has shown strong development in renewable energy on the one hand, but invested in new coal power plants on the other. It is among the 20 countries with the largest developed oil and gas reserves. It is also among the nine countries responsible for 90% of global coal production. Additionally, China plans to increase its gas and coal production by over 5% by 2030 (compared with 2019 levels). This is incompatible with the 1.5°C target. The CCPI experts criticise this reliance on coal and other fossil fuels and demand that the country focus on decarbonising the power sector.

China is planning new coal plants

China’s international climate policy rates a medium, as the country will ban overseas coal projects. Yet at the same time, its planning of new domestic coal plants undermines this policy.

Engagement between China and the United States remain crucial for the success of the COP, and the complex trade and geopolitical relationships of the countries endanger effective progress in tackling the climate crisis.

Key Outcomes

CCPI experts

The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:

• Wilson Tang (WWF China)