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2010-10-14

China's target to reducc carbon intensity

Comments on Zhongxiang Zhang “An assessment of China’s energy conservation and carbon intensity”, 14/10/2010, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/10/14/an-assessment-of-chinas-energy-conservation-and-carbon-intensity/
There are a number of interesting points here.

Firstly, just like the use of carbon pollution by the Rudd government, this article uses dirty coal. One is not sure when clean coal technologies are used, whether coal will still remain dirty or not.

Second, many people say China's statistics are problematic. The question in terms of carbon intensity should perhaps not really be about that problem, but about the consistency of China's statistics. If the statistics are largely consistent over time, then it will not be a serious problem.

Thirdly, assuming the measure of intensity is consistent over time, then a question on whether China's target is ambitious or not, or credible or not, also involves whether the World Energy Outlook 2009 baseline levels (its business as usual levels) are correct or not, if they are to be used as a guide for evaluating China's target.

Fourthly, while it may be interesting to know that “the whole world is waiting to see whether China can turn this challenge into a win-win outcome for China and for global climate change”, it is also important for the rest of the world to take serious actions as opposed to “waiting to see”.

Lastly, while it is convenient to talk about China being the world’s largest aggregate emitter of carbon dioxide, one should not ignore the fact on per capita basis China’s emissions are only a fraction of those in most industrialised countries.

After all, it is the per capita level of emissions that is the key issue, given the huge variations in the size of countries across the world.

It is important to have this on any international negotiations on emission reduction, because that is arguably a human right issue and there is an issue of international equity and fairness involved in reduction obligations.

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