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”When China emits gases, the whole world is affected” – seminar about Chinas role on climate and energy
China’s economic growth is an important engine for the global economy. As the country’s energy usage increases, its global footprint increases. For the Chinese government, it isn’t the climate that stands at the center, but the energy’s sustainability. This was one of the conclusions that came out from the discussion “China emits – What is happening with the climate?” with Börje Ljunggren, who was among other things, foreign Swedish ambassador in China and Kalle Hallding, head of the China-programme at the Stockholm Environmental Institute.
The Chinese leaders that travelled to Copenhagen stayed in bed and didn´t take the criticism from the EU that well, as Börje Ljunggren said. They thought that they came with honest intentions, but were exposed to a lot of criticism. This is an experience which still characterises Chinas attitude towards UN’s climate negotiations.
Kalle Hallding illustrated the political game and the power shift with help of some well-known pictures of the world leaders in Copenhagen. Pictures which according to him illustrated that the western world underestimated the forces among the G77-countries.
Some of these pictures are like Michelangelo’s dinner, he said while laughing. The more you look at the pictures, the more details and signals you get to see. Everything from body language, to gestures and facial expressions.
Energy policy instead of climate policy
China staying sceptic towards climate negotiations is a well known fact. According to Börje Ljunggren this is due to three different perspectives: greenhouse emissions per country, per person and the accumulating emissions. Because of the fact that we in the west release much more per person and have in addition had a ”carbondioxide-party” for a hundred years , China is never going to accept getting invited for dessert and then having to pay for the whole party. We have to realise that.
Even if the climate doesn’t stand in the day’s order the energy and the energy’s sustainability does. When China suffered big and repetitive blackouts at the beginning of the 21st century, the Chinese leaders realised that they needed to look over their energy support, both about the secure access to energy, as well as the energy mix.
-China’s enormous need of energy forces them to supplement the use of carbon and oil with renewable energy sources.
Green energy increases – but brown increases faster
Maybe the hope for the climate lays also in the Chinese energy policy. For example, they are now making big investments on wind and solar power. But it is hard to interpret the statistics.
– It is important to separate exactly the increase rate, Kalle Hallding states. Today China has the biggest wind energy park, but it produces approximately only one percent of their energy usage. There is still col, oil and gas which composes the majority of Chinas energy.
Kalle Halldig uses the metaphor about the green and the brown horse which compete with one another. According to which we constantly receive joyful reports about how the green horse is running faster and faster, taking enormous steps forward with the development in green technology and the renewable energy sources.
– The only problem is that the brown horse is running faster, as Kalle Hallding says. Chinas energy usage increases and in the future is going to be mainly dependent on the fossil energy sources.
Dark scenario – but with glimmers of light
Börje Ljunggren and Kalle Hallding are painting up a dark scenario. With stranded UN-negotiations, our “fossil fuel addiction” and the already happening climate change continues. But there are some light glimmers in the compact darkness and at least Sweden and the Nordic countries can have an important part in the industrial development and cooperation around the technological development.
“Sweden has of course comparative advantages which we can have use for in the relationship with China as well as other developing countries”, Kalle Hallding says.
Furthermore, as Börje Ljunggren points out, the Chinese people, with help of the internet, no longer support the deteriorations of the environment and health. He refers to the hundreds of thousands of protests which take place all around China.
“I think that the opinions on the internet can influence a lot the choices made by Chinese leaders”, proclaims Börje Ljunggren.
“In extension, this is relevant also with China’s power to attract”, says Kalle Hallding and shows the pictures of a smoke-filled Beijing. If China continues to have economic growth, we must attract the sharpest minds from all over the world, and there are probably not so many people who would choose to move with their family and children to a city where you can hardly breathe.
