The People’s Republic of China

1. The People’s Republic of China Sarah Forsyth March 2, 2005 ES 338

2. Physical Aspects • Divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities • Terrain: mountains, plateaus, deserts, deltas, hills, and plains • Climate: ranges from tropical to sub artic • Area: 9, 596, 960 square km (4th largest country) • Population: 1,273,111,290

3. Economy • Communist State • High rate of growth • GDP per capita: $3,600 (2000) • GDP: 15% agriculture, 50% industry, 35% services • In contrast the work force is: 50% agriculture, 24% industry, and 26% services • Industries: coal, iron, steel, building machines, petroleum, cement, textiles, fertilizers, toys, automobiles, electronics • Main Crops: wheat, rice, potatoes, sorghum

4. Coal • Electric Power: 79.8% fossil fuel, 18.98% hydropower, 1.2% nuclear power • 1976 – 1995 use of coal increased from 69.9% to 78% while the amount of energy used from 1970 t0 1990 increased 208 times • Currently emits second largest amount of carbon dioxide • Predicted by 2020 to surpass the U.S. in the amount of CO2 emissions released

5. China Boilers: 50-60% efficient Coal stoves: 10-15% efficient 80% of coal is unwashed (health problems) Developed Countries Boilers: 90% efficient Natural Gas stoves: 80-95% efficient Energy Use Inefficiencies

6. Groups • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) • State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) • State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) • Ministry of Science and Technology • National Climate Change Coordination Group (NCCCG)

7. Environmental Awareness • “Cultural Revolution” 1966 – 1977 • 1972 attended the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm • Pollution became a large problem • Build up from unregulated industry growth • Air pollution, Water pollution, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion • Ex: World Bank estimated air pollution caused 50$ billion per year in 1997

8. 80’s and Early 90’s • “Open Door” policy (1979-1989); particularly during the 80’s awareness in the scientific community arose regarding climate change • 1987 PRC Academy of Sciences worked on a study w/ the US Department of Energy called “Global Climate Change Countermeasures: A Research Report of the Advisory Group” (published in 1991) • Policies to create and negotiate climate change policy • 1990 recession started – slowed new technology and efforts to use fuel more efficiently • 1992 UNCED conference at Rio de Janeiro • Framework Convention on Climate Change • China’s concerns: • Included uncertainties of climate change science • Emphasis on the responsibility of Developed countries • Sovereignty • Technology transfer and funds for developing countries • 1995 COP1 at Berlin • Supported the “Berlin Mandate”

9. Kyoto Protocol • Felt that as a developing country should not have any emission regulations or any other requirements which might hurt economic growth • Responsibility of developed countries • Concentrated interest on “flexible mechanisms” • Originally supported JI, but joined other developing countries to dispute • CDM • China worried would give Developed countries and advantages because they could use the cheapest projects before developing countries needed to cut emissions • China felt “flexible mechanisms” might allow developed countries to avoid the protocol’s regulations • Ratified: August 30, 2002

10. Later Negotiations • COP5 • Refusal to commit to emissions regulations • COP6 • Became slightly more supportive of “flexibility mechanisms” • Against the use of carbon sinks • COP7 • Higher support of “flexibility mechanisms” • Suggested immediate start of CDM projects • Benefits of “flexibility mechanisms” • Allows for large technological and monetary gains • Japan funds many JI projects • Availability for CDM projects w/I the country: fuel switch, importing fuel from Russia, capturing coal-bed methane • GEF (Global Environment Facility)  funds technology transfer, energy efficiency, projects to reduce GHG emissions • PRC receives a large portion of the funds • 2001 received 17% of the total GEF funds

11. Driving Forces • Internal Pollution Problems: especially air and water (acid rain) • IPCC indicates that climate change would hurt the country’s economy: new water problems, ecosystem damage, forestry and agriculture damage, increased flooding, coastal settlement damage • Appears as a large threat since famines in recent history • Already drought problems

12. Policy • “No Regrets” strategy • Implement GHG limitations and fuel efficiency only if another benefit exists • Economy growth • Health benefits (respiratory diseases and lung cancer large problem in urban areas) • Fuel switch • Funds allow for building some new nuclear plants and construction of Three Gorges Dam on Changjiang River • Very costly particularly in comparison to cheap price of coal • Support of using natural gas and coal briquettes domestically to cut down on use of unwashed coal • Investment in more efficient boilers in industry

13. Pressures Driving Policy • Three main points directing climate change policy • Active role will allow the country to develop stronger relationships with developed countries and strengthen relationships w/ developing countries. • Hope that current leadership will lead to future power surrounding the interests of other developing countries • Maintaining National Sovereignty • Ensure that China will not be under enforced CO2 emission regulations • Worry that such regulations would hurt the development of their economy • Belief that Developed Countries are responsible for the majority of global warming and should take most of the burden of fixing the problem