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China’s climate and energy policy: at a turning point?

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  • Gørild M. Heggelund

    (The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI))

Abstract

How have 30 years of development in energy and climate policies influenced long-term trends in China and what does this imply for future climate policies? To answer the question, this article examines three decades of energy and climate policies in China. By providing an overarching review, it contributes new and updated research on drivers behind long-term climate policies and whether China’s long-term emissions trend can be broken by placing greater emphasis on innovation, technology and low-carbon development. Importantly, it analyses the most recent policy developments in China, such as the likely effects of China’s recent 2060 carbon neutrality goal. We conclude that after the Paris Agreement, the biggest policy change has been technological innovation in the power and transport sector. China has prioritized measures, laws and policies for developing renewable energy, especially solar and wind. China has also embraced the ‘green growth’ approach for responding to the challenges of climate change. These efforts have yielded results, and China has emerged as a world leader in renewable energy. However, there is still a long way to go. The upcoming 14th five-year plan will be critical for accelerating the energy transition, including setting a cap on coal in the national energy-transition strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Gørild M. Heggelund, 2021. "China’s climate and energy policy: at a turning point?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 9-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:21:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10784-021-09528-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10784-021-09528-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gørild Heggelund & Iselin Stensdal & Maosheng Duan & Jørgen Wettestad, 2019. "China’s Development of ETS as a GHG Mitigating Policy Tool: A Case of Policy Diffusion or Domestic Drivers?," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 36(2), pages 168-194, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Xiaochun & Jiang, Mei & Wu, Zijun & Zhou, Ying, 2023. "Quantitative evaluation of China's energy security policy under the background of intensifying geopolitical conflicts: Based on PMC model," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    2. Quan Tran & Thao Tran & Duc Hong Vo, 2022. "Environmental regulation stringency and foreign direct investment," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 474-493, September.
    3. Iselin Stensdal & Gørild Heggelund, 2023. "Changes in China’s climate justice perceptions: domestic and international consequences," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 459-480, September.
    4. Meng, Ming & Li, Xinxin, 2022. "Evaluating the direct rebound effect of electricity consumption: An empirical analysis of the provincial level in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    5. Li, Jianling & Zhao, Ziwen & Xu, Dan & Li, Peiquan & Liu, Yong & Mahmud, Md Apel & Chen, Diyi, 2023. "The potential assessment of pump hydro energy storage to reduce renewable curtailment and CO2 emissions in Northwest China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 82-96.

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