As the Australian federal Coalition promotes its vision for reducing emissions, a new global report highlights China’s transformative journey towards becoming an economic powerhouse while achieving significant milestones in pollution reduction. The Global Carbon Project (GCP), based in Australia at CSIRO, has unveiled its annual Global Carbon Budget, offering insights into greenhouse gas emissions by sector and country.
This year’s findings present a mixed picture. The latest data suggests a slight rise in carbon emissions by 2025, potentially pushing the world towards the critical 1.5°C warming threshold within four years. The report forecasts a 1.1% increase in emissions from fossil fuel use, which accounts for about 90% of all emissions, reaching 42.2 billion tonnes in the atmosphere. However, emissions from land-use are expected to decline.
China’s Emissions Plateau: A Turning Point
Amid these global challenges, there is a silver lining. Emissions in China, the world’s largest polluter responsible for 32% of global emissions, appear to have peaked or begun to plateau. Pep Canadell, GCP’s executive director and chief research scientist at CSIRO, expressed optimism about China’s progress in a briefing before the report’s release.
“We’ve certainly been very pleased to see a confirmation of incredibly slow [emissions] growth in China,” said Canadell.
Frank Jotzo, head of energy at the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions and director at the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy at The Australian National University, attributes China’s decarbonization efforts to a unique blend of economic and environmental motivations.
“China really has grabbed the economic and business advantage from clean energy,” Jotzo explained.
The Economic and Environmental Impact
China’s commitment to clean energy is evident in its status as the largest investor in domestic renewable energy and the leading global producer of clean energy technologies, including solar panels and wind turbines. This strategic positioning is driven by industrial policy and a strong desire to improve domestic air quality.
For the first time in decades, Beijing residents can enjoy clearer skies, with the surrounding mountains visible on many days. This improvement in air quality has significant implications for public health and quality of life.
“If you’re in Beijing now, for the first time, actually, in decades, on many, many days, you actually see the surrounding mountains in Beijing,” Jotzo noted.
China’s investment in renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines and solar transmission, is staggering. However, Canadell emphasizes that global cooperation is essential to address the broader issue of climate change.
“The task is enormous. It’s not that we’re trying to stop [emissions] growth, we’re trying to stop growth and then go to net zero,” Canadell stated.
Lessons for Australia and Beyond
Jotzo warns against the notion that Australia’s climate policy should be limited by its relatively small contribution to global emissions. He argues that every nation, regardless of size, has a responsibility to contribute to global efforts.
“This is the oldest argument in the ‘let’s not do anything playbook,’” Jotzo said.
Australia, with its unique circumstances and resources, has the potential to lead in the transition to renewable energy. The economic opportunities presented by a shift to renewables are immense, and China’s experience offers valuable lessons.
“What can we learn from [China]? Well, deploy, deploy, deploy,” Jotzo emphasized.
China’s manufacturing prowess has made solar panels affordable, creating opportunities for countries like Australia to embrace zero-emissions energy solutions. Jotzo encourages leveraging these cost-effective technologies to accelerate the transition.
As the world grapples with the complex challenge of climate change, the progress in China serves as both an inspiration and a call to action for other nations. The path forward requires collective effort and innovative solutions to secure a sustainable future.
