Will China achieve its 2020 emission plans?

Author: Iloka Benneth Chiemelie

Published: 17th of September 2014

Yes! You have definitely answered my questions to some point.

Lan (2012) also wrote in the China Daily that emission cap does shows that China is sincere about its plan to reduce global emission. This is based on the understanding that some cities in East China has started plans on capping their greenhouse gas emission, and such experience will be of example to others (Lan, 2012).

However, there is an issue. Although China has set the target of cubing carbon intensity emission per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent between 2005 to 2020, China Daily Newspaper made known that determining how to achieve this target has been made the decision of local governments (Lan, 2012). While the plan is natural, the decision is individualized per local governments and this is creates a number of issues such as:

1.      Sincerity of the local government that can have an impact on overall sincerity of the Chinese government.

2.      Biased reports might emerge as competition between local governments to record best improvement begins.

3.      Lack of definitive approach can bring about issues with respect to the right approaches that must be adopted and how they can be deployed. Thus, local governments might try what is best known to them and this can elude success of the whole plan.

As such, I do believe that China’s plan doesn’t correspond with its approach and it might end up not meeting the desired goal. What do you think?

References

Lan, L., (2012). Emissions cap shows China's 'sincerity.’ China Daily Newspaper, USA. Available at: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-11/29/content_15970010.htm [Accessed on: 16^th – 09 – 2014].