Abstract
This article discusses China’s motives for participation in the Asia–Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP), and whether this has or will have consequences for its participation and efforts in the UN track of international climate governance. In order to discuss these issues, it also provides an outline of key national priorities and explains the nature of China’s involvement in both the UN track and the APP. It suggests that the APP is a complement to the UN process, not a competitor, in the case of China. APP participation represents a win–win situation in terms of the transfer of technology and know-how for solving challenges related to energy security and greenhouse gas emissions. For the Chinese leadership, this seems preferable to taking on UN commitments which it fears would impede economic development. The APP’s projects also seem to complement the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism project in China. This article argues that there is little indication that China would make less of an effort under the UN track.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
While there exists no unified definition of “developed” and “developing” countries, one should note that the terms take into consideration not just economy, but also factors such as degree of democratic government, industrialization, the existence of social programs, and human rights.
Members of the NC4 include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Meteorological Administration, the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Economic and Trade Commission, the State Forestry Administration, the State Oceanographic Administration, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, and the Ministry of Commerce. See www.ccchina.gov.cn/index1.htm.
A State Energy Commission and a National Energy Administration were established in 2008 to take on some of the NDRC’s responsibilities, but this does not appear to have brought about substantial change in energy governance, due to the energy bureaucracy’s limited capacities in terms of tools, manpower, authority, and independence from the NDRC (Downs 2008).
CO2 equivalent is a measure used to compare the emissions from various GHGs based upon their global warming potential.
See http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/WebSite/CDM/UpFile/File2143.doc. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
Calculations based on figures from the pipeline, EB registrations and CER issuances which are updated regularly on NC4’s website http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/english/main.asp?ColumnId=26. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
For updates and specific information on CER issuance, see http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/english/.
See http://www.cdmpipeline.org and http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/english/. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
The information regarding the revenues from the CDM is in its entirety based upon information (through personal communication) from Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives GmbH, www.perspectives.cc.
Personal communication with NDRC and MFA officials, 2007 and 2008.
Personal communication, NDRC official, November 2008.
Personal communication, MFA officials, April 2007, October 2008, and NDRC official, November 2008.
Personal communication, NDRC official, November 2008.
Abbreviations
- APP:
-
Asia–Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
- CDM:
-
Clean Development Mechanism
- CER:
-
Certified Emissions Reductions
- COP:
-
Conference of the Parties
- GHG:
-
Greenhouse gas
- GDP:
-
Gross domestic product
- MEP:
-
Ministry of Environmental Protection
- MFA:
-
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- MOST:
-
Ministry of Science and Technology
- NC4:
-
National Climate Change Coordination Committee
- NDRC:
-
National Development and Reform Commission
- UNFCCC:
-
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
References
Adam, D., & Vidal, J. (2007, June 19). China overtakes US as world’s biggest CO2 emitter. The Guardian Online. Retrieved June 19, 2007, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jun/19/china.usnews.
APP. (2006). Communiqué from the Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate inaugural ministerial meeting. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/Communique.pdf.
APP. (2007). Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate charter. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://asiapacificpartnership.org/charter.pdf.
APP. (2008). Harmonisation of the APP gas markets. Analysis of gas markets and their growth in APP partner economies. Executive summary and findings and conclusions. Draft. Price Waterhouse Coopers. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Projects/CFETF/CFE-06-08_APPEA_Exec_Sum_Findings.pdf.
APP. (2009a). About the Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/About.htm.
APP. (2009b). APP project roster. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/english/project_roster.aspx.
APP. (2009c). Cleaner fossil energy task force action plan. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Projects/Cleaner%20Fossil%20Energy%20Action%20Plan%20030507.pdf.
APP. (2009d). Power generation and transmission task force action plan. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Projects/Power%20Generation%20and%20Transmission%20Task%20Force%20Action%20Plan%20030507.pdf.
Brown, P. (2005, July 29). Six-country pact on clean energy ‘not meant to undermine Kyoto. The Guardian Online. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1538644,00.html?gusrc=rss.
Buan, I. F., & Heggelund, G. M. (2008). China’s involvement in climate change mitigation. Asia Portal. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.asiaportal.info/infocusblog/?p=45.
Buckley, C. (2007, February 6). China preparing plan for climate change. Reuters. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/40197/story.htm.
Buckley, C., & Graham-Harrison, E. (2008, October 6). Reuters Summit-China grim on prospects for climate pact. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK15753.
CNN. (2009, January 15). China passes Germany in economic ranking. CNN Online. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/15/china.economy/.
Downs, E. (2008). China’s energy policies and their environmental impacts. Testimony before the U.S.–China economic & security review commission panel. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2008hearings/written_testimonies/08_08_13_wrts/08_08_13_downs_statement.pdf.
Eckersley, R. (2007). Ambushed: the Kyoto protocol, the Bush administration’s climate policy and the erosion of legitimacy. International Politics, 44, 306–324.
Economy, E. (2006, December 3). A blame game China needs to stop. Washington Post Online. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101519.html.
Economy, E. (2007, April 19). China vs. earth. The Nation Online. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070507/economy.
EIA. (2007). World Energy Outlook 2007. China and India Insights. Paris: OECD/EIA.
ENB. (2008, December 1). Earth negotiations bulletin (Vol. 12 No. 385). Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/enb12385e.pdf.
Energy Foundation. (2007). Energy foundation annual report 2007. Energy in China: the myths, reality, and challenges. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.ef.org/documents/2007_EF_Annual_Report.pdf.
Gore, A. (2008, December 13). Speech in Poznan. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://blog.algore.com/2008/12/.
Gov.cn. (2008). China’s policies and actions for addressing climate change (full text). Gov.cn: Chinese Government’s Official Web Portal. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.gov.cn/english/2008-10/29/content_1134544.htm.
Haya, B. (2007). Letter to CDM executive board on non-additional Chinese hydros. International Rivers. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://internationalrivers.org/node/1892.
Heggelund, G. (2007). China’s climate change policy: Domestic and international developments. Asian Perspective, 31(2), 155–191.
Heggelund, G., Andresen, S., & Buan, I. F. (2010, forthcoming). China’s climate change policy: National priorities and domestic politics. In Sundstrom, L. M. & Harrison, K. (Eds.), The comparative politics of climate change (provisional title). Cambridge: MIT Press.
Herzog, T. (2007). China’s carbon intensity target. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.wri.org/stories/2007/04/chinas-carbon-intensity-target#.
Herzog, T., Baumert, K. A., & Pershing, J. (2006). Target: Intensity. An analysis of greenhouse gas intensity targets. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.
Hua, J. (2006, January 12). Strengthen cooperation for clean development and protect the common homeland of human beings—statement at the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/UpFile/File647.DOC.
IEA. (2004). World energy outlook 2004. Paris: International Energy Agency.
IEA. (2007). World energy outlook 2007. Paris: International Energy Agency.
Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, S., & van Asselt, H. (2009). Introduction: Exploring and explaining the Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 9(3), this issue.
Kasa, S., Gullhaug, A. T., & Heggelund, G. (2008). The Group of 77 in international climate negotiations: recent developments and future directions? International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 8(2), 113–127.
Kellow, A. (2006). A new process for negotiating multilateral environmental agreements? The Asia-Pacific climate partnership beyond Kyoto. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 60(2), 287–303.
Lawrence, P. (2007). The Asia Partnership on clean development and climate (AP6): a distraction to the Kyoto process or a viable alternative? University of New South Wales Faculty of Law Research Series. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://eprints.utas.edu.au/3756/.
Leggett, J. A., Logan, J., & Mackey, A. (2008). China’s greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation policies. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34659.pdf.
Lewis, J. I. (2007a). China’s strategic priorities in international climate change negotiations. The Washington Quarterly, 31(1), 155–174.
Lewis, J. I. (2007b). China’s climate change strategy. ( China Brief, Vol. 7, Issue 13). Washington, DC: The Jamestown Foundation.
Lum, T. (2006). Social unrest in China. CRS Report for Congress. Washington DC: Council of Foreign Relations. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33416.pdf.
McGee, J., & Taplin, R. (2006). The Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate: A complement or competitor to the Kyoto protocol? Global Change, Peace & Security, 18(3), 173–192.
McLaughlin, K. E. (2009, January 7). Carbon emissions strategies top agenda in anticipation of international pressure. International Environment Reporter, 32(1), 46.
Michaelowa, A. (2008). Empirical analysis of performance of CDM projects: Final Report. London: Climate Strategies. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.climatestrategies.org/component/reports/category/16/71.html.
Müller-Kraenner, S. (2008). Energy security. London: Earthscan.
NC4. (2005). Measures for operation and management of clean development mechanism projects in China. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/english/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=905.
NC4. (2006). Qihou bianhua guojia pinggu baogao [China’s National Assessment Report on Climate Change]. Beijing: Science Press.
NDRC. (2005). China medium and long term energy conservation plan [Jieneng zhong changqi zhuanxiang guihua]. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press.
NDRC. (2006). The outline of the 11th five year plan for national economic and social development of the People’s Republic of China. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/hot/t20060529_71334.htm.
NDRC. (2007a). China’s national climate change programme. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/WebSite/CCChina/UpFile/File188.pdf.
NDRC. (2007b). Medium and long term development plan for renewable energy. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://en.chinagate.com.cn/reports/2007-09/13/content_8872839.htm.
NDRC. (2009). Implementation of the Bali roadmap. China’s position on the Copenhagen climate change conference. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/t20090521_280382.htm.
OECD. (2007). Environmental performance reviews: China. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
PRC. (2004). Initial national communication on climate change [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo Qihoubianhua chushi guojia xinxi tongbao]. Beijing: China Planning Publishing House.
Qi, Y., Li, M., Zhang, H., & Li, H. (2008). Translating a global issue into local priority, China’s local government response to climate change. Journal of Environment & Development, 17(4), 378–400.
Revkin, A. C. (2008, November 18). Obama: Climate plan firm amid economic woes. New York Times Online. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/obama-climate-message-amid-economic-woes/.
Sinton, J. E., Stern, R. E., Aden, N. T., & Levine, M. D. (Eds.). (2005). Evaluation of China’s energy strategy options. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories.
Skodvin, T., & Andresen, S. (2009). Reorientation or ‘business as usual’ in U.S. climate policy? International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 9(3), this issue.
Sugiyama, T., & Oshita, S. (Eds.). (2006). Cooperative climate. Energy efficiency across East Asia. Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
UNDP. (2008). China human development report 2007/2008. Beijing: China Publishing Group Corporation & China Translation and Publishing Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.undp.org.cn/downloads/nhdr2008/NHDR2008_en.pdf.
UNEP Risø. (2008). A reformed CDM—including new mechanisms for sustainable development. Perspectives Series. Roskilde: UNEP Risø Centre.
UNEP Risø (2009). CDM Pipeline. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.cdmpipeline.org/publications/CDMpipeline.xls.
van Asselt, H. (2007). From UN-ity to diversity? The UNFCCC, the Asia-Pacific partnership, and the future of international law on climate change. Carbon and Climate Law Review, 1(1), 17–28.
Victor, D. G., & Wara, M. (2008). A realistic policy on international carbon offsets. Working Paper #74, Stanford University, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development.
Vihma, A. (2009). Friendly neighbor or Trojan horse? Assessing the interaction of soft law initiatives and the UN climate regime. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 9(3). doi:10.1007/s10784-009-9100-3.
Wara, M. (2008). Measuring the clean development mechanism’s performance and potential. UCLA Law Review, 55, 1759–1803.
World Bank. (2006). Clean energy and development: Towards an investment framework. Washington, DC: World Bank.
World Bank. (2008). Country brief. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/CHINAEXTN/0,,menuPK:318960~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:318950,00.html.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives GmbH, and Professor Steinar Andresen of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute FNI for valuable comments and information. We also thank the editors and two anonymous reviewers for their comments. Funding has been provided by the Research Council of Norway. Parts of the article are based on a presentation by Heggelund at the 48th ISA Conference, Chicago, February 28– March 3, 2007.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Gørild M. Heggelund is currently Senior Climate Change Advisor at the UNDP China country office. This article was written in the capacity of Senior Research Fellow at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. The contents are solely the authors’ and do not reflect the views or positions of the UNDP.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heggelund, G.M., Buan, I.F. China in the Asia–Pacific Partnership: consequences for UN climate change mitigation efforts?. Int Environ Agreements 9, 301–317 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-009-9099-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-009-9099-5