Stewart Taggart, Founder & Principal, Grenatec
May 04, 2016
Roughly $10 trillion per year, or 12% of the global economy, is now in play fighting climate change. Properly invested in zero emission energy, transport and business infrastructure of tomorrow. Key to the success of a future clean energy economy will be liberalization of energy markets, which partially exists in the U.S. operation of nationwide natural gas distribution system. Critical reforms along these lines also are underway in China.
Chen Yonglong, Director of Center of American Studies, China Foundation for International Studies
Dec 22, 2015
The negotiations were tiresome, the jostling was tough and complicated. To save the common homeland of mankind, to guarantee the sustainable development of all countries, the conclusion of the Paris Agreement gives hope and expectation that we can overcome all sorts of difficulties, and we have the wisdom and courage to do so.
Yvo de Boer, Director-General, Global Green Growth Institute
Dec 21, 2015
The landmark climate deal negotiated last week in Paris is important first step. However, increased coordination and cooperation between developed and developing countries to enable these much-needed reforms is critical. This includes collective learning, building tools to help strengthen institutional capacity and develop green growth policy, expanding peer learning and knowledge sharing, and engaging private investors and public donors.
Ben Reynolds, Writer and Foreign Policy Analyst in New York
Dec 10, 2015
As long as booming economic growth is seen as the key to enduring legitimacy and political success, it may be politically impossible to avoid catastrophic global warming. There are no “American” or “Chinese” emissions. There are simply carbon emissions.
Han Liqun, Researcher, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations
Nov 30, 2015
Historically, international development cooperation without financing arrangements often had no future. Although the Paris Conference opens now, there has been no systemic progress on climate financing. If developed countries fail to make clear arrangements on how to finance the $100 billion target, developing countries may well refuse to sign on the final agreement. It is therefore essential for the parties to reach a realistic and politically acceptable financing scheme.
Michal Meidan, Director, China Matters
Oct 16, 2015
China’s recently announced cap-and-trade system to limit emissions is a positive development, but not new. China’s emissions trading system (ETS) has seen some capping, and very little trading. Additional challenges lie ahead in the pricing of carbon and introduction of unified measurement, reporting, and verification systems.
Five years after Copenhagen, we see today an unprecedented global effort to secure a successful outcome for the global climate summit to be held in Paris this December. Much progress has been made. But much more still needs to be done. It will also require a deep attitudinal change for all countries on the core, underlying question of sustainable development.
Aug 25, 2015
Achieving the environmental goals presented to the UN not only can help China effectively control greenhouse-gas emissions and address global climate change, it will lay a good foundation to improve the ecological environment especially air quality. That creates an inspiring model for other nations as the Paris climate change conference approaches, where success depends on respect for developing nations varying capacities to make change and a spirit of cooperation, not confrontation.
Han Liqun, Researcher, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations
May 18, 2015
Since China and the US the two countries made climate cooperation a priority in bilateral ties two years ago, the positive gesture has stimulated international climate politics. Moves toward common stances on key issues have raised hopes for new breakthroughs at the upcoming summit in France.
Mark L. Clifford, Executive Director, Asia Business Council
May 13, 2015
China accounts for half of the worlds coal consumption, which greatly contributes to its 30% share of global CO2 emissions. Decreasing reliance on coal is part of China’s progress for reaching the goals set by the U.S.-China climate agreement. Investment in solar and wind renewable energy are further contributing to reaching targets sooner than expected.