Opportunities for California to Learn from the European Union
California is often cited a leader in subnational climate leadership and action. However, an in-depth analysis of California's climate policy on a sector-by-sector basis exposes a number of policy gaps that still need to be filled and there is much California could learn from other jurisdictions, including the European Union.
Governing Emissions Trading in California and China
Carbon markets are at a crossroads. As of 2021, 30 emissions trading systems were in force globally, covering 16–17% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Last year, climate negotiators in Glasgow finalized the Paris Agreement rulebook for international cooperation through carbon markets, clearing the way for the expansion of emissions trading and carbon pricing worldwide
Carrying the Freight
A quarter of carbon emissions from transportation come from heavy-duty trucks. They are also disproportionate sources of air pollution. Addressing these emissions will be challenging and will require a multi-prong strategy.
Electric Vehicle Growth in China: What’s Next?
2021 witnessed significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales in China. The share of new energy vehicles in new passenger vehicle sales more than doubled from 8.4% at the beginning of the year to 20.6% by year’s end. This EV sales surge was driven by both policy incentives and growing consumer demand.
Insights from States’ Leadership in Climate Action
In 2017, in the wake of former President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, states, cities, businesses, and other non-state leaders – often referred to as “subnationals” – stepped in to fill the void. Now with the U.S. federal government re-engaged with the world on climate, new research from the California-China Climate Institute examines how U.S. subnationals are continuing to advance climate leadership and action at the state level.
A Pathway For China To Peak Emissions by 2025
In September 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out China’s overarching climate policy goals: to peak emissions before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. China’s recently-updated Nationally-Determined Contribution, submitted to the UN in November 2021, reiterates these objectives.
More than Numbers: China’s New Climate Plans
At the recently-convened COP26 climate talks, China's Special Envoy for Climate, Xie Zhenhua, highlighted the country’s recent progress in working towards its climate goals with not just rhetoric but action.
China’s power crunch is another reminder to move away from its carbon-intensive growth path
Since August, more than 20 Chinese provinces experienced industrial or residential power crunches, including China’s major manufacturing hubs: Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu. Traffic lights went dark, air conditioners stopped, and assembly lines paused.
The Devil's in the Details: Assessing China's Pledge to End Overseas Coal Construction
Last month, President Xi Jinping addressed the United Nations General Assembly via video message and sent shockwaves around the world, announcing that his country will stop building coal-fired power plants overseas
California-China Collaborative Action: A Key Pathway to Accelerate Nature-based Climate Solutions
How can forests, wetlands, and farms provide solutions to meet our climate goals? How do we create and implement policies to support the ecosystems that we depend on to sequester carbon, protect coastal cities from floods and heat waves, and provide us with clean air and water? Answering these questions is at the center of the Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the California-China Climate Institute’s (CCCI) ongoing work to advance nature-based climate solutions (NbS) in California and China.
Priorities for U.S.-China Subnational Partnerships on Carbon Neutrality
Recent carbon and climate neutrality commitments from a growing number of countries and regions —China, the EU, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S. — represent a sea change in global momentum for tackling climate change.
Emerging best-practices for reducing short-lived climate pollutants
The California-China Climate Institute has released a new report outlining avenues for gaining traction and international collaboration on short-lived climate pollutants. The report offers opportunities for reducing short-lived climate pollutants for China and highlight the importance of multi-policy and multi-gas strategies by drawing out examples of these approaches from California, Canada, and the European Union.
China Launches World’s Largest Carbon Market
China’s long-awaited national emissions trading system (ETS) launched last week, following prolonged anticipation. The effort was first announced in 2011, during the 12th Five-Year Planning process, as part of a broader strategy for enhancing green development.
The Long and Bumpy Road to Deep Decarbonization: Assessing Net-Zero Pathways in the U.S. and China
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that global net carbon dioxide emissions need to be reduced to zero by mid-century to potentially limit global temperature rise to 1.5°Celsius (C), and stave off the worst impacts of climate change.
Achieving Synergies between Carbon Reduction Goals and Air Quality Improvements in California and China
Californian and Chinese urban areas have long faced significant local air pollution issues, posing challenges to public health. Large cities in both regions face local air quality concerns and thermal inversions which further compound the problem (for example, in Los Angeles and Beijing).
Common Ground on Climate: Understanding the US-China Joint Statement
After months of growing geopolitical tensions, the US and China have finally found something to agree on: the need to confront the climate crisis. In fact, two days of meetings last week in Shanghai between US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and his counterpart, Special Climate Envoy Xie Zhenhua have culminated in the release of a joint statement.
China’s 14th Five-Year Plan: A Missed Opportunity to Chart a Path to Carbon Neutrality?
Every five years China releases its blueprint for social and economic development and gives the world a preview of what’s to come. This year, on the heels of President Xi Jinping’s commitment to make China carbon neutral by 2060 and with the UN’s Conference of the Parties (COP 26) quickly approaching, expectations were particularly high.
China's 2060 Climate Neutrality Goal: New Horizons for California-China Cooperation on Climate
On September 22, at the United Nations General Assembly, China’s President Xi Jinping announced that China would achieve “carbon neutrality before 2060” and
A Pathway to Progress: Informal Linkage and California and China's Carbon Markets
Carbon pollution exacts a tremendous cost on our economy, environment and health. One key action we can take to reduce these damaging emissions is to put a price on carbon.
How California and China, Together, Can Accelerate a Global Shift to Zero-emission Vehicles
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep across the globe, now is the time for us to reflect not only on our shared vulnerability, but also on what's possible through collective action.