China says climate onus is on the US
In this newsletter:
1) China unlikely to make new climate pledges
Associated Press, 17 April 2021
Associated Press, 17 April 2021
2) China says climate onus on US in John Kerry talks
Agence France-Press, 17 April 2021
3) China urges ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ with US on climate cooperation
Global Times, 17 April 2021
4) US & China agree to ‘cooperate’ on climate (whatever that means)
Associated Press, 18 April 2021
Reuters, 19 April 2021
Agence France-Press, 17 April 2021
3) China urges ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ with US on climate cooperation
Global Times, 17 April 2021
4) US & China agree to ‘cooperate’ on climate (whatever that means)
Associated Press, 18 April 2021
5) China warns EU on carbon border tax
Politico, 17 April 2021
6) China pledged to cut emissions, then went on a coal spree
GreenBiz, 15 April 2021
7) India plans to build new coal plants due to low costPolitico, 17 April 2021
6) China pledged to cut emissions, then went on a coal spree
GreenBiz, 15 April 2021
Reuters, 19 April 2021
8) Brazil needs $10 bln a year in aid for carbon neutrality by 2050, minister says
Reuters, 17 April 2021
Reuters, 17 April 2021
9) French President Macron blasted as he 'abandons' France’s climate promises
Daily Express, 14 April 2021
10) Revealed: The EU’s stunning green hypocrisy
Daily Express, 14 April 2021
10) Revealed: The EU’s stunning green hypocrisy
11) Multi-billion Euro lawsuits derail Europe's climate plans
Deutsche Welle, 19 April 2021
Deutsche Welle, 19 April 2021
Full details:
1) China unlikely to make new climate pledges
Associated Press, 17 April 2021
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled that his country is unlikely to make any new pledges.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called Friday for closer cooperation on combating global change as he held a video meeting with the leaders of Germany and France, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel came in advance of a climate change meeting called by U.S. President Joe Biden for next week.
Xi said climate change “should not become a geopolitical chip, a target for attacking other countries or an excuse for trade barriers,” Xinhua quoted the Chinese president as saying.
He expressed hope developed economies “will set an example in reducing emissions” and provide money and technology to help developing countries cope, according to Xinhua.
Merkel welcomed Xi reaffirming China’s goal of CO2 neutrality by 2060 and supported China’s approach of adjusting short-term targets, a spokesperson for the chancellor, Ulrike Demmer, said.
Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Xi, to an April 22-23 virtual climate summit. The United States and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions and to pledge financial help for the climate-protection efforts of less wealthy nations.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled that his country is unlikely to make any new pledges. He spoke as Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, was in Shanghai for closed-door meetings with Chinese counterparts.
Full story
Associated Press, 17 April 2021
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled that his country is unlikely to make any new pledges.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called Friday for closer cooperation on combating global change as he held a video meeting with the leaders of Germany and France, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel came in advance of a climate change meeting called by U.S. President Joe Biden for next week.
Xi said climate change “should not become a geopolitical chip, a target for attacking other countries or an excuse for trade barriers,” Xinhua quoted the Chinese president as saying.
He expressed hope developed economies “will set an example in reducing emissions” and provide money and technology to help developing countries cope, according to Xinhua.
Merkel welcomed Xi reaffirming China’s goal of CO2 neutrality by 2060 and supported China’s approach of adjusting short-term targets, a spokesperson for the chancellor, Ulrike Demmer, said.
Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Xi, to an April 22-23 virtual climate summit. The United States and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions and to pledge financial help for the climate-protection efforts of less wealthy nations.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled that his country is unlikely to make any new pledges. He spoke as Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, was in Shanghai for closed-door meetings with Chinese counterparts.
Full story
2) China says climate onus on US in John Kerry talks
Agence France-Press, 17 April 2021
China said on Friday that the United States needed to take more responsibility on climate change but welcomed greater cooperation after a visit by envoy John Kerry, according to state media.
Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, signalling hopes the two sides could work together on the global challenge despite sky-high tensions on multiple other fronts.
“China attaches importance to carrying out dialogue and cooperation on climate change with the US side,” said Vice-Premier Han Zheng, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“China welcomes the US return to the Paris agreement, and expects the US side to uphold the agreement, shoulder its due responsibilities and make due contributions,” Han said after virtual talks with Kerry, who visited Shanghai where he met his Chinese counterpart.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was more blunt on Twitter as she highlighted the US withdrawal from the Paris accord under former president Donald Trump.
Biden immediately returned to the deal and next week holds a virtual summit of world leaders on climate.
“Its return is by no means a glorious comeback but rather a truant getting back to class,” Hua said of the United States.
She pressed the United States to “offer how it will make up for the lost four years”, including payments to the UN-backed Green Climate Fund, which provides support to developing countries worst hit by climate change.
Full story
3) China urges ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ with US on climate cooperation
Global Times, 17 April 2021
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zhen'sg remarks stressing the “common but differentiated responsibilities” of the US and China might be a response to the attempt by the US to shift its own responsibility onto China.
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng expressed his willingness for cooperation with the US on tackling climate change in a video conference with US climate envoy John Kerry on Friday, which Chinese experts believed sent a message that China expects the US will put aside political mindsets and promote cooperation on climate with sincerity.
The video meeting was held amid Kerry’s four-day trip to China, during which he is also set to meet with Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change affairs.
China attaches great importance to dialogue and cooperation with the US on climate change and expects that the US will uphold the Paris Agreement and fulfill its due responsibilities, Han Zheng, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was quoted as saying in a report by Xinhua News Agency on Saturday.
As the largest developing country and the largest developed country in the world, China and the US should observe “common but differentiated responsibilities” in addressing climate change. China is ready to work with the US to leverage the strengths of each other and work with all parties to implement the Paris Agreement, Han said.
Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Saturday that Han’s remarks delivered a message that climate change is not a free-standing issue, hoping the US would set aside political concerns and sincerely promote mutual cooperation.
Lü said reducing carbon emissions is related to the fields of science and technology, the new-energy industry and super computers used for monitoring the climate, but unfortunately, these fields have experienced a crackdown from the US against China.
In the video meeting with Han, Kerry pointed out the vital importance of the two countries’ cooperation in battling the climate crisis and said the US is willing to strengthen communication and deepen collaboration with China on the matter, said the Xinhua report.
The former US secretary of state told the media prior to his trip to China that the US has to “work together” with China to tackle climate change despite the “big disagreements” on some key issues, otherwise “you are just killing yourself.”
Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Kerry has been outspoken on the US’s willingness to cooperate with China on climate change since he came into office, however, the US would not “make any deals” with China nor let cooperation “affect” its competition and confrontation with China.
He said Han’s remarks stressing the “common but differentiated responsibilities” of the US and China might be a response to the attempt by the US to shift its own responsibility onto China.
Full story
5) US & China agree to ‘cooperate’ on climate (whatever that means)
Associated Press, 18 April 2021
While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next week’s summit.
The United States and China, the world’s two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to cooperate to curb climate change with urgency, just days before President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.
The agreement was reached by U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua during two days of talks in Shanghai last week, according to a joint statement.
The two countries “are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands,” the statement said.
China is the world’s biggest carbon emitter, followed by the United States. The two countries pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planet’s atmosphere. Their cooperation is key to a success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade and China’s territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine such efforts.
Meeting with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, Kerry said the language in the statement is “strong” and that the two countries agreed on “critical elements on where we have to go.” But the former secretary of state said, “I learned in diplomacy that you don’t put your back on the words, you put on actions. We all need to see what happens.”
Noting that China is the world’s biggest coal user, Kerry said he and Chinese officials had a lot of discussions on how to accelerate a global energy transition. “I have never shied away from expressing our views shared by many, many people that it is imperative to reduce coal, everywhere,” he said.
Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The U.S. and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.
It’s unclear how much Kerry’s China visit would promote U.S.-China cooperation on climate issues.
While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled Friday that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next week’s summit.
“For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered,” Le said during an interview with The Associated Press in Beijing. “Some countries are asking China to achieve the goals earlier. I am afraid this is not very realistic.”
Full story
6) China pledged to cut emissions, then went on a coal spree
GreenBiz, 15 April 2021
Chinese officials realize that the country’s renewable energy resources are insufficient — and too intermittent — to ease dependence on coal in the near future. Zhang cited recent problems with energy grid failures in Texas as a prime example of what Chinese officials don’t want to see happen in their country.
China’s National People’s Congress meetings, which ended in March, were shrouded in both a real and figurative haze about how strong its climate ambitions really are and how quickly the country can wean itself from its main source of energy — coal.
During the Congress, air pollution returned to Beijing with a vengeance, hitting the highest levels since January 2019, as the economy hummed out of the pandemic. Steel, cement and heavy manufacturing, predominantly backed by coal power, boosted China’s carbon dioxide emissions 4 percent in the second half of 2020 compared to the same pre-pandemic period the year before. At the same time, the goals in the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan on energy intensity, carbon intensity and renewables were hazy as well, little more than vague commitments to tackle carbon dioxide emissions.
Coal remains at the heart of China’s flourishing economy. In 2019, 58 percent of the country’s total energy consumption came from coal, which helps explain why China accounts for 28 percent of all global CO2 emissions. And China continues to build coal-fired power plants at a rate that outpaces the rest of the world combined. In 2020, China brought 38.4 gigawatts of new coal-fired power into operation, more than three times what was brought on line everywhere else.
A total of 247 gigawatts of coal power is in planning or development, nearly six times Germany’s entire coal-fired capacity. China also has proposed additional new coal plants that, if built, would generate 73.5 gigawatts of power, more than five times the 13.9 gigawatts proposed in the rest of the world combined. Last year, Chinese provinces granted construction approval to 47 gigawatts of coal power projects, more than three times the capacity permitted in 2019.In 2019, 58% of the country’s total energy consumption came from coal, which helps explain why China accounts for 28% of all global CO2 emissions.
China has pledged that its emissions will peak around 2030, but that high-water mark still would mean that the country is generating huge quantities CO2 — 12.9 billion to 14.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually for the next decade, or as much as 15 percent per year above 2015 levels, according to a Climate Action Tracker analysis.
This continued reliance on coal highlights the dichotomy between China’s overriding goal of fostering economic growth to lift the living standards of its 1.44 billion people and the country’s desire to cut CO2 emissions. In recent months, China’s leadership has signaled a move toward deeper decarbonization by reiterating its Paris Agreement pledge of a 2030 emissions peak and by vowing to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, the latter goal outlined by leader Xi Jinping in September to much global fanfare.
Whether China can flatten its carbon emissions in the next decade remains to be seen, and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060 depends heavily on increasing reliance on renewable energy and nuclear power, as well as major technological advances in areas such as carbon capture-and-storage. At this point, China’s coal dependence threatens both its long-term decarbonization plans and global efforts to limit temperatures increases to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the short term, the Communist Party’s chief concern remains how to grow the economy by around 6 percent per year. And, as identified in its latest Five-Year Plan, a top risk to China’s aim of maintaining a “moderately prosperous society” remains a lack of energy to drive its economy.
Full post
7) India plans to build new coal plants due to low cost
Reuters, 19 April 2021
India may build new coal-fired power plants as they generate the cheapest power, according to a draft electricity policy document seen by Reuters, despite growing calls from environmentalists to deter use of coal.
Coal’s contribution to electricity generation in India fell for the second straight year in 2020, marking a departure from decades of growth in coal-fired power. Still, the fuel accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s annual power output…
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry this month said India was “getting the job done on climate, pushing the curve,” as he began talks with government leaders aimed at cutting carbon emissions faster to slow global warming.
But a 28-page February draft of the National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2021 – which has not been made public – showed India may add new coal-fired capacity, though it recommended tighter technology standards to reduce pollution.
“While India is committed to add more capacity through non-fossil sources of generation, coal-based generation capacity may still be required to be added in the country as it continues to be the cheapest source of generation,” the NEP draft read.
All future coal-based plants should only deploy so-called “ultra super critical” less polluting technologies “or other more efficient technology”, it added.
State-run NTPC Ltd, India’s top electricity producer, said in September it will not acquire land for new coal-fired projects. Private firms and many run by states across the country have not invested in new coal-fired plants for years saying they were not economically viable.
A source with direct knowledge said a government panel of various power sector experts and officials will discuss the draft and could make changes before seeking cabinet approval.
Full story
see also Vijay Jayaraj: India speeds up fossil-fuelled economy, despite Net Zero noises
Agence France-Press, 17 April 2021
China said on Friday that the United States needed to take more responsibility on climate change but welcomed greater cooperation after a visit by envoy John Kerry, according to state media.
Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, signalling hopes the two sides could work together on the global challenge despite sky-high tensions on multiple other fronts.
“China attaches importance to carrying out dialogue and cooperation on climate change with the US side,” said Vice-Premier Han Zheng, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“China welcomes the US return to the Paris agreement, and expects the US side to uphold the agreement, shoulder its due responsibilities and make due contributions,” Han said after virtual talks with Kerry, who visited Shanghai where he met his Chinese counterpart.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was more blunt on Twitter as she highlighted the US withdrawal from the Paris accord under former president Donald Trump.
Biden immediately returned to the deal and next week holds a virtual summit of world leaders on climate.
“Its return is by no means a glorious comeback but rather a truant getting back to class,” Hua said of the United States.
She pressed the United States to “offer how it will make up for the lost four years”, including payments to the UN-backed Green Climate Fund, which provides support to developing countries worst hit by climate change.
Full story
3) China urges ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ with US on climate cooperation
Global Times, 17 April 2021
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zhen'sg remarks stressing the “common but differentiated responsibilities” of the US and China might be a response to the attempt by the US to shift its own responsibility onto China.
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng expressed his willingness for cooperation with the US on tackling climate change in a video conference with US climate envoy John Kerry on Friday, which Chinese experts believed sent a message that China expects the US will put aside political mindsets and promote cooperation on climate with sincerity.
The video meeting was held amid Kerry’s four-day trip to China, during which he is also set to meet with Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change affairs.
China attaches great importance to dialogue and cooperation with the US on climate change and expects that the US will uphold the Paris Agreement and fulfill its due responsibilities, Han Zheng, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was quoted as saying in a report by Xinhua News Agency on Saturday.
As the largest developing country and the largest developed country in the world, China and the US should observe “common but differentiated responsibilities” in addressing climate change. China is ready to work with the US to leverage the strengths of each other and work with all parties to implement the Paris Agreement, Han said.
Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Saturday that Han’s remarks delivered a message that climate change is not a free-standing issue, hoping the US would set aside political concerns and sincerely promote mutual cooperation.
Lü said reducing carbon emissions is related to the fields of science and technology, the new-energy industry and super computers used for monitoring the climate, but unfortunately, these fields have experienced a crackdown from the US against China.
In the video meeting with Han, Kerry pointed out the vital importance of the two countries’ cooperation in battling the climate crisis and said the US is willing to strengthen communication and deepen collaboration with China on the matter, said the Xinhua report.
The former US secretary of state told the media prior to his trip to China that the US has to “work together” with China to tackle climate change despite the “big disagreements” on some key issues, otherwise “you are just killing yourself.”
Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Kerry has been outspoken on the US’s willingness to cooperate with China on climate change since he came into office, however, the US would not “make any deals” with China nor let cooperation “affect” its competition and confrontation with China.
He said Han’s remarks stressing the “common but differentiated responsibilities” of the US and China might be a response to the attempt by the US to shift its own responsibility onto China.
Full story
4) China warns EU on carbon border tax
Politico, 17 April 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping blasted EU plans to develop a so-called Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism — aimed at ensuring that companies producing in countries with laxer climate rules face a carbon cost when exporting to Europe.
“Tackling climate change should … not become an excuse for geopolitics, attacking other countries or trade barriers,” Xi said, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.
The accounts of the call differed significantly between Berlin and Beijing, while France didn’t release any readout as of Friday afternoon. According to Xinhua, Xi said: “I am willing to strengthen cooperation with France and Germany on climate change.”
The European spin was more subdued.
“The three have had calls like this in the past, as part of regular international relations on their side,” an EU official said.
An official German account of the conversation said Macron and Merkel “welcomed” Xi’s announcement last year that China would reach climate neutrality by 2060. It also noted that Xi had shifted China’s description of when it would peak emissions from “around 2030” to “by 2030,” while hinting they expected more.
“They supported the approach of China, to also adjust short-term [emissions] reduction goals,” the German readout said.
Perceptions of what Friday’s virtual meeting was about were quite different in recent days.
China had trumpeted the need for Western powers to forge cooperation with Beijing on climate change — despite tensions over a wide array of issues and a recent tit-for-tat sanctions scuffle set off by accusations of China’s human rights violations.
China even surprised officials in Berlin and Paris by announcing the call as a “climate summit.” That was later revised to “video summit.”
Looming over Friday’s chat was the United States, which is ramping up pressure on China to cut emissions ahead of President Joe Biden’s climate summit next week.
With U.S. climate envoy John Kerry in Shanghai, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng told the Associated Press that the U.S. approach was “too negative” and lacked “a forward-looking spirit.” Kerry has consistently ruled out softening criticism of China over human rights abuses or trade tensions in order to work together on climate.
The EU and the U.S. are both calling on China, the world’s leading emitter, to do more to slash its greenhouse gas output.
Full story
Politico, 17 April 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping blasted EU plans to develop a so-called Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism — aimed at ensuring that companies producing in countries with laxer climate rules face a carbon cost when exporting to Europe.
“Tackling climate change should … not become an excuse for geopolitics, attacking other countries or trade barriers,” Xi said, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.
The accounts of the call differed significantly between Berlin and Beijing, while France didn’t release any readout as of Friday afternoon. According to Xinhua, Xi said: “I am willing to strengthen cooperation with France and Germany on climate change.”
The European spin was more subdued.
“The three have had calls like this in the past, as part of regular international relations on their side,” an EU official said.
An official German account of the conversation said Macron and Merkel “welcomed” Xi’s announcement last year that China would reach climate neutrality by 2060. It also noted that Xi had shifted China’s description of when it would peak emissions from “around 2030” to “by 2030,” while hinting they expected more.
“They supported the approach of China, to also adjust short-term [emissions] reduction goals,” the German readout said.
Perceptions of what Friday’s virtual meeting was about were quite different in recent days.
China had trumpeted the need for Western powers to forge cooperation with Beijing on climate change — despite tensions over a wide array of issues and a recent tit-for-tat sanctions scuffle set off by accusations of China’s human rights violations.
China even surprised officials in Berlin and Paris by announcing the call as a “climate summit.” That was later revised to “video summit.”
Looming over Friday’s chat was the United States, which is ramping up pressure on China to cut emissions ahead of President Joe Biden’s climate summit next week.
With U.S. climate envoy John Kerry in Shanghai, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng told the Associated Press that the U.S. approach was “too negative” and lacked “a forward-looking spirit.” Kerry has consistently ruled out softening criticism of China over human rights abuses or trade tensions in order to work together on climate.
The EU and the U.S. are both calling on China, the world’s leading emitter, to do more to slash its greenhouse gas output.
Full story
Associated Press, 18 April 2021
While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next week’s summit.
The United States and China, the world’s two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to cooperate to curb climate change with urgency, just days before President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.
The agreement was reached by U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua during two days of talks in Shanghai last week, according to a joint statement.
The two countries “are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands,” the statement said.
China is the world’s biggest carbon emitter, followed by the United States. The two countries pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planet’s atmosphere. Their cooperation is key to a success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade and China’s territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine such efforts.
Meeting with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, Kerry said the language in the statement is “strong” and that the two countries agreed on “critical elements on where we have to go.” But the former secretary of state said, “I learned in diplomacy that you don’t put your back on the words, you put on actions. We all need to see what happens.”
Noting that China is the world’s biggest coal user, Kerry said he and Chinese officials had a lot of discussions on how to accelerate a global energy transition. “I have never shied away from expressing our views shared by many, many people that it is imperative to reduce coal, everywhere,” he said.
Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The U.S. and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.
It’s unclear how much Kerry’s China visit would promote U.S.-China cooperation on climate issues.
While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled Friday that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next week’s summit.
“For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered,” Le said during an interview with The Associated Press in Beijing. “Some countries are asking China to achieve the goals earlier. I am afraid this is not very realistic.”
Full story
6) China pledged to cut emissions, then went on a coal spree
GreenBiz, 15 April 2021
Chinese officials realize that the country’s renewable energy resources are insufficient — and too intermittent — to ease dependence on coal in the near future. Zhang cited recent problems with energy grid failures in Texas as a prime example of what Chinese officials don’t want to see happen in their country.
China’s National People’s Congress meetings, which ended in March, were shrouded in both a real and figurative haze about how strong its climate ambitions really are and how quickly the country can wean itself from its main source of energy — coal.
During the Congress, air pollution returned to Beijing with a vengeance, hitting the highest levels since January 2019, as the economy hummed out of the pandemic. Steel, cement and heavy manufacturing, predominantly backed by coal power, boosted China’s carbon dioxide emissions 4 percent in the second half of 2020 compared to the same pre-pandemic period the year before. At the same time, the goals in the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan on energy intensity, carbon intensity and renewables were hazy as well, little more than vague commitments to tackle carbon dioxide emissions.
Coal remains at the heart of China’s flourishing economy. In 2019, 58 percent of the country’s total energy consumption came from coal, which helps explain why China accounts for 28 percent of all global CO2 emissions. And China continues to build coal-fired power plants at a rate that outpaces the rest of the world combined. In 2020, China brought 38.4 gigawatts of new coal-fired power into operation, more than three times what was brought on line everywhere else.
A total of 247 gigawatts of coal power is in planning or development, nearly six times Germany’s entire coal-fired capacity. China also has proposed additional new coal plants that, if built, would generate 73.5 gigawatts of power, more than five times the 13.9 gigawatts proposed in the rest of the world combined. Last year, Chinese provinces granted construction approval to 47 gigawatts of coal power projects, more than three times the capacity permitted in 2019.In 2019, 58% of the country’s total energy consumption came from coal, which helps explain why China accounts for 28% of all global CO2 emissions.
China has pledged that its emissions will peak around 2030, but that high-water mark still would mean that the country is generating huge quantities CO2 — 12.9 billion to 14.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually for the next decade, or as much as 15 percent per year above 2015 levels, according to a Climate Action Tracker analysis.
This continued reliance on coal highlights the dichotomy between China’s overriding goal of fostering economic growth to lift the living standards of its 1.44 billion people and the country’s desire to cut CO2 emissions. In recent months, China’s leadership has signaled a move toward deeper decarbonization by reiterating its Paris Agreement pledge of a 2030 emissions peak and by vowing to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, the latter goal outlined by leader Xi Jinping in September to much global fanfare.
Whether China can flatten its carbon emissions in the next decade remains to be seen, and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060 depends heavily on increasing reliance on renewable energy and nuclear power, as well as major technological advances in areas such as carbon capture-and-storage. At this point, China’s coal dependence threatens both its long-term decarbonization plans and global efforts to limit temperatures increases to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the short term, the Communist Party’s chief concern remains how to grow the economy by around 6 percent per year. And, as identified in its latest Five-Year Plan, a top risk to China’s aim of maintaining a “moderately prosperous society” remains a lack of energy to drive its economy.
Full post
7) India plans to build new coal plants due to low cost
Reuters, 19 April 2021
India may build new coal-fired power plants as they generate the cheapest power, according to a draft electricity policy document seen by Reuters, despite growing calls from environmentalists to deter use of coal.
Coal’s contribution to electricity generation in India fell for the second straight year in 2020, marking a departure from decades of growth in coal-fired power. Still, the fuel accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s annual power output…
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry this month said India was “getting the job done on climate, pushing the curve,” as he began talks with government leaders aimed at cutting carbon emissions faster to slow global warming.
But a 28-page February draft of the National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2021 – which has not been made public – showed India may add new coal-fired capacity, though it recommended tighter technology standards to reduce pollution.
“While India is committed to add more capacity through non-fossil sources of generation, coal-based generation capacity may still be required to be added in the country as it continues to be the cheapest source of generation,” the NEP draft read.
All future coal-based plants should only deploy so-called “ultra super critical” less polluting technologies “or other more efficient technology”, it added.
State-run NTPC Ltd, India’s top electricity producer, said in September it will not acquire land for new coal-fired projects. Private firms and many run by states across the country have not invested in new coal-fired plants for years saying they were not economically viable.
A source with direct knowledge said a government panel of various power sector experts and officials will discuss the draft and could make changes before seeking cabinet approval.
Full story
see also Vijay Jayaraj: India speeds up fossil-fuelled economy, despite Net Zero noises
8) Brazil needs $10 bln a year in aid for carbon neutrality by 2050, minister says
Reuters, 17 April 2021
Brazil’s environment minister, Ricardo Salles, told Reuters on Friday that Brazil would need to receive $10 billion annually in foreign aid in order to reach economy-wide net zero carbon emissions by 2050, instead of 2060 as currently planned.
Salles has regularly called for the international community to pick up part of the check for reducing Brazil’s carbon emissions, which predominantly come from deforestation.
His call for $10 billion a year in aid comes as Brazil negotiates a separate potential deal with the United States to rally foreign funds to fight soaring deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Salles said he does not expect a deal to be announced at next week’s U.S. Earth Day summit, but that talks with the United States would continue.
“There is not and was never the objective of negotiating some kind of deal to deliver on April 22,” Salles said in an
interview.
Reuters reported on Thursday that a potential deal had reached an impasse, with Brazil demanding funding up front to increase efforts to fight deforestation while the United States demanded results before opening its purse strings.
“We understand their logic, but they need some understanding that Brazil already has a lot of results,” Salles said.
He cited the fact that most of Brazil’s forest is preserved, which means emissions from the carbon they contain has been avoided.
Deforestation in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon rainforest has skyrocketed under Bolsonaro, hitting a 12-year high in 2020 with an area 14 times the size of New York City being destroyed, government data show.
Salles said just $1 billion per year out of the $10 billion would enable Brazil to reach zero illegal deforestation ahead of the existing 2030 target.
About one-third of that money would go toward contracting more environmental agents, probably drawing from the ranks of the national military police, Salles said.
The other two-thirds would be used to invest in sustainable development of the Amazon region, he said.
“This is what we presented,” Salles said, about the proposal to stop deforestation. “In what spirit? You want a plan? Here is a plan.”
Full story
Reuters, 17 April 2021
Brazil’s environment minister, Ricardo Salles, told Reuters on Friday that Brazil would need to receive $10 billion annually in foreign aid in order to reach economy-wide net zero carbon emissions by 2050, instead of 2060 as currently planned.
Salles has regularly called for the international community to pick up part of the check for reducing Brazil’s carbon emissions, which predominantly come from deforestation.
His call for $10 billion a year in aid comes as Brazil negotiates a separate potential deal with the United States to rally foreign funds to fight soaring deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Salles said he does not expect a deal to be announced at next week’s U.S. Earth Day summit, but that talks with the United States would continue.
“There is not and was never the objective of negotiating some kind of deal to deliver on April 22,” Salles said in an
interview.
Reuters reported on Thursday that a potential deal had reached an impasse, with Brazil demanding funding up front to increase efforts to fight deforestation while the United States demanded results before opening its purse strings.
“We understand their logic, but they need some understanding that Brazil already has a lot of results,” Salles said.
He cited the fact that most of Brazil’s forest is preserved, which means emissions from the carbon they contain has been avoided.
Deforestation in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon rainforest has skyrocketed under Bolsonaro, hitting a 12-year high in 2020 with an area 14 times the size of New York City being destroyed, government data show.
Salles said just $1 billion per year out of the $10 billion would enable Brazil to reach zero illegal deforestation ahead of the existing 2030 target.
About one-third of that money would go toward contracting more environmental agents, probably drawing from the ranks of the national military police, Salles said.
The other two-thirds would be used to invest in sustainable development of the Amazon region, he said.
“This is what we presented,” Salles said, about the proposal to stop deforestation. “In what spirit? You want a plan? Here is a plan.”
Full story
9) French President Macron blasted as he 'abandons' France’s climate promises
Daily Express, 14 April 2021
French President Emmanuel Macron has been blasted for "abandoning" climate change promises he made to the French public.
Outspoken MEP Marie Toussaint accused the unapologetic europhile of publicly flaunting his green credentials before backtracking at the 11th hour.
The Greens–European Free Alliance politician spoke after France agreed to cut emissions targets from 55 percent to 52.8 percent by the end of the decade.
He tweeted: “France's official position was to raise the union's climate objectives to 55 percent by 2030, but... the government has just turned a blind eye! It now supports the target of 52.8 percent!”
“France is indeed asking for the immediate end of negotiations, thus providing tacit support to the countries that reject climate action, such as Hungary, with which Macron has made an agreement: you support nuclear power, I support fossil gas.
“Stopping the negotiations means getting a good start before the Earth Summit (April 20 and 21) to determine the future of the union's climate objectives.
On Friday EU leaders agreed to increase the bloc’s emission-reduction target to 55 percent by 2030.
This is part of its aim to become carbon neutral by 2050 and updates its commitment to the 2015 UN Paris climate change agreement.
After leaders finally reached a compromise, president of the European Council Charles Michel declared: “Europe is the leader in the fight against climate change.”
On the face of it, Mr Macron appears to have met his promises.
But the fine print reveals that the goal includes so-called 'carbon sinks' for the first time.
This means that by planting trees and other carbon absorbing methods a country will reduce its overall net emissions under the target.
Full story
Daily Express, 14 April 2021
French President Emmanuel Macron has been blasted for "abandoning" climate change promises he made to the French public.
Outspoken MEP Marie Toussaint accused the unapologetic europhile of publicly flaunting his green credentials before backtracking at the 11th hour.
The Greens–European Free Alliance politician spoke after France agreed to cut emissions targets from 55 percent to 52.8 percent by the end of the decade.
He tweeted: “France's official position was to raise the union's climate objectives to 55 percent by 2030, but... the government has just turned a blind eye! It now supports the target of 52.8 percent!”
“France is indeed asking for the immediate end of negotiations, thus providing tacit support to the countries that reject climate action, such as Hungary, with which Macron has made an agreement: you support nuclear power, I support fossil gas.
“Stopping the negotiations means getting a good start before the Earth Summit (April 20 and 21) to determine the future of the union's climate objectives.
On Friday EU leaders agreed to increase the bloc’s emission-reduction target to 55 percent by 2030.
This is part of its aim to become carbon neutral by 2050 and updates its commitment to the 2015 UN Paris climate change agreement.
After leaders finally reached a compromise, president of the European Council Charles Michel declared: “Europe is the leader in the fight against climate change.”
On the face of it, Mr Macron appears to have met his promises.
But the fine print reveals that the goal includes so-called 'carbon sinks' for the first time.
This means that by planting trees and other carbon absorbing methods a country will reduce its overall net emissions under the target.
Full story
10) Revealed: The EU’s stunning green hypocrisy
The Street, 14 April 2021
Let’s check in on EU’s green energy policy and how countries meet green investment targets.
The Street, 14 April 2021
Let’s check in on EU’s green energy policy and how countries meet green investment targets.
Green Smokescreen
The EU mandates that that 30% of all EU expenditures be allocated to green projects. Eurointelligence discusses the Green Smokescreen and some amusing math as to how those targets are met:
"If you took this target seriously, you would have to reform the Common Agricultural Policy. But the EU failed to do precisely that when they had an opportunity last year. Instead, the EU resorts to cheating.
The European Commission classifies investment in terms of 0%, 40% and 100% green content, and rounds up the numbers to the next higher target. So 1% becomes 40%. 41% becomes 100%.
You can always rely on EU leaders to put appearances ahead of content.
Reform of fiscal rules, a capital markets union, and changes in tax rules would produce more environmental investments and employment than a senseless competition for numerical climate change targets.
I also don’t believe this charade will work politically. When the mendacity of the EU’s climate policy becomes apparent, the centre will not only have lost the victims of the economic crisis, but an entire generation of young voters.
This is the thing with smoke and mirrors: when the smoke lifts, you see clearly."
Greenwashed Out
The above article was published on March 13, 2021.
Eurointelligence reports today in “Greenwashed Out” that lobbyists consider the above demands as too strict.
"The Commission has been working to update its green finance taxonomy because the most recent set of guidelines, published in 2019, were deemed too strict by some member states and industry lobbyists.
In layman’s terms, projects that are not green will still be labelled green, which defeats the purpose of the entire endeavor.
Nine members of the 57-strong group have threatened to quit over the latest proposal because it would allow companies that are not currently considered green to claim investments, such as highly efficient steel production, and classify them as taxonomy-aligned.
This means that the proposal will maintain a longstanding practice of mislabeling green investments. Under a previous set of guidelines, a system called the Rio markers was used to round up the green content of investments and projects. A project with even a tiny amount of green content would qualify as 40% green, and anything with more than 40% green content was rounded up to 100% green."
Full post
The EU mandates that that 30% of all EU expenditures be allocated to green projects. Eurointelligence discusses the Green Smokescreen and some amusing math as to how those targets are met:
"If you took this target seriously, you would have to reform the Common Agricultural Policy. But the EU failed to do precisely that when they had an opportunity last year. Instead, the EU resorts to cheating.
The European Commission classifies investment in terms of 0%, 40% and 100% green content, and rounds up the numbers to the next higher target. So 1% becomes 40%. 41% becomes 100%.
You can always rely on EU leaders to put appearances ahead of content.
Reform of fiscal rules, a capital markets union, and changes in tax rules would produce more environmental investments and employment than a senseless competition for numerical climate change targets.
I also don’t believe this charade will work politically. When the mendacity of the EU’s climate policy becomes apparent, the centre will not only have lost the victims of the economic crisis, but an entire generation of young voters.
This is the thing with smoke and mirrors: when the smoke lifts, you see clearly."
Greenwashed Out
The above article was published on March 13, 2021.
Eurointelligence reports today in “Greenwashed Out” that lobbyists consider the above demands as too strict.
"The Commission has been working to update its green finance taxonomy because the most recent set of guidelines, published in 2019, were deemed too strict by some member states and industry lobbyists.
In layman’s terms, projects that are not green will still be labelled green, which defeats the purpose of the entire endeavor.
Nine members of the 57-strong group have threatened to quit over the latest proposal because it would allow companies that are not currently considered green to claim investments, such as highly efficient steel production, and classify them as taxonomy-aligned.
This means that the proposal will maintain a longstanding practice of mislabeling green investments. Under a previous set of guidelines, a system called the Rio markers was used to round up the green content of investments and projects. A project with even a tiny amount of green content would qualify as 40% green, and anything with more than 40% green content was rounded up to 100% green."
Full post
11) Multi-billion Euro lawsuits derail Europe's climate plans
Deutsche Welle, 19 April 2021
An archaic energy treaty is being weaponized by big emitters to sue EU governments who are phasing out fossil fuels. Hundreds of billions of taxpayer funds could be redirected from climate action to corporate coffers.
In February, German energy company RWE invoked an obscure agreement called the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) to sue the Netherlands for 1.4 billion euros ($1.67 billion) as compensation for phasing out coal by 2030.
The case is the tip of a litigation iceberg, with another German energy company, Uniper, on Friday confirming it is taking the Netherlands to court over its coal exit, and in parallel is suing for a reported 1 billion euros under the ECT. Such claims are magnified due to an obscure "future earnings" clause.
The treaty protects around 345 billion euros worth of fossil fuel infrastructure in the EU, Great Britain and Switzerland, according to analysis by cross-border journalist collective Investigate Europe.
Concern is growing among EU politicians and climate activists that the investor-friendly ECT is slowing climate ambition. It is also shifting the climate action burden from fossil fuel companies to tax payers. Opponents say massive public payouts need instead to be spent on decarbonization and the energy transition...
Shadowy tribunals could threaten climate goals
An international agreement created to protect fossil fuel investments in former Soviet states, the ECT was ratified by the EU and its member states in 1994. Fifty-five countries are signatories to the deal by which energy investors can challenge a state's policies via an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism.
The only treaty in the world devoted to energy, some 80% of the 136 known disputes (not all are made public) have been brought to the tribunal since 2011, according to Investigate Europe. Most have sought compensation from EU states.
Though some 60% of cases have related to renewable energy investments, the most high profile lawsuits have been responses to recent fossil fuel phaseouts — Germany, for instance, agreed to pay Swedish energy giant Vattenfall and several minor claimants 2.6 billion euros in February as compensation for a nuclear power phaseout following ECT arbitration.
Full story
An archaic energy treaty is being weaponized by big emitters to sue EU governments who are phasing out fossil fuels. Hundreds of billions of taxpayer funds could be redirected from climate action to corporate coffers.
In February, German energy company RWE invoked an obscure agreement called the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) to sue the Netherlands for 1.4 billion euros ($1.67 billion) as compensation for phasing out coal by 2030.
The case is the tip of a litigation iceberg, with another German energy company, Uniper, on Friday confirming it is taking the Netherlands to court over its coal exit, and in parallel is suing for a reported 1 billion euros under the ECT. Such claims are magnified due to an obscure "future earnings" clause.
The treaty protects around 345 billion euros worth of fossil fuel infrastructure in the EU, Great Britain and Switzerland, according to analysis by cross-border journalist collective Investigate Europe.
Concern is growing among EU politicians and climate activists that the investor-friendly ECT is slowing climate ambition. It is also shifting the climate action burden from fossil fuel companies to tax payers. Opponents say massive public payouts need instead to be spent on decarbonization and the energy transition...
Shadowy tribunals could threaten climate goals
An international agreement created to protect fossil fuel investments in former Soviet states, the ECT was ratified by the EU and its member states in 1994. Fifty-five countries are signatories to the deal by which energy investors can challenge a state's policies via an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism.
The only treaty in the world devoted to energy, some 80% of the 136 known disputes (not all are made public) have been brought to the tribunal since 2011, according to Investigate Europe. Most have sought compensation from EU states.
Though some 60% of cases have related to renewable energy investments, the most high profile lawsuits have been responses to recent fossil fuel phaseouts — Germany, for instance, agreed to pay Swedish energy giant Vattenfall and several minor claimants 2.6 billion euros in February as compensation for a nuclear power phaseout following ECT arbitration.
Full story
The London-based Global Warming Policy Forum is a world leading think tank on global warming policy issues. The GWPF newsletter is prepared by Director Dr Benny Peiser - for more information, please visit the website at www.thegwpf.com.
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