Google – AFP, Martin Parry (AFP), 28 April 2013
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Solar
panels in the Sino-Singapore Eco-city near Tianjin on June 11, 2012
(AFP/File,
Ed Jones)
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SYDNEY —
China is rapidly assuming a global leadership role on climate change alongside
the United States, a new study said Monday, but it warned greenhouse gas
emissions worldwide continue to rise strongly.
The report
by the independent Australian-based Climate Commission, "The Critical
Decade: International Action on Climate Change" presents an overview of
action in the last nine months.
It was
released on the same day as a fresh round of UN talks were to start in Bonn on
boosting action on climate change -- a two-decade-long process that has been
dogged by procedural bickering and defence of national interests.
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A wind turbine complex on the Zhemo
Mountain in the outskirts of Dali in China's
Yunnan province on November 5, 2009
(AFP/File, Liu Jin)
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"China
has halved its growth in electricity demand, dramatically increased its
renewable energy capacity, and decelerated its emissions growth more quickly
than expected.
"After
years of strong growth in coal use, this has begun to level off. They are
beginning to put in place seven emissions trading schemes that will cover
quarter of a billion people," he said.
The report
added that China, which this month agreed to work with the US to tackle global
warming, wanted "to position themselves as the world's renewable energy
leader".
"Whatever
the reason, the results speak for themselves. China is quickly moving to the
top of the leader board on climate change," said Flannery.
The report
found that in 2012 alone China invested US$65.1 billion in clean energy, 20
percent more than in 2011. This was unmatched and represented 30 percent of the
entire G20 nations' investment last year.
It pointed
to new solar power capacity in China expanding 75 percent last year while the
amount of electricity generated from wind in 2012 was 36 percent higher than
2011.
The United
States, which with China produces some 37 percent of world emissions, also
significantly strengthened its climate change response, pumping US$35.6 billion
into renewable energy last year, second only to Beijing.
The report
said the impact of the economic downturn and a progressive shift from coal to
gas had kept Washington on track to meet its national goal of reducing
emissions by 17 percent on 2005 levels by 2020.
"Important
foundations have been set that are likely to have a lasting impact in the coming
decades," it added, pointing to California, the world's ninth largest
economy, beginning an emissions trading scheme in January.
More than
half of US states now have policies to encourage renewable energy.
Beyond
China and the US, momentum globally has grown with 98 countries committing to
limit emissions.
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Workers
check a solar panel in a field in Hami, China's Xinjiang region,
on August 6,
2012 (AFP)
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"Renewable
energy is surging globally with solar capacity increasing 42 percent and wind
21 percent in just one year," said Flannery. "With so much global
momentum this is clearly the beginning of the clean energy era."
But while
progress was being made, the report cautioned that "it is not
enough".
"Globally
emissions are continuing to rise strongly, posing serious risks for our
society," it said.
"This
decade must set the foundations to reduce emissions rapidly to nearly zero by
2050. The earlier such action is under way the less disruptive and costly it
will be."
The
five-day Bonn negotiations beginning Monday are the first since United Nations
talks in Qatar last December that set down a two-track process for tackling
greenhouse gases.
The goal is
a new climate treaty that will be concluded by 2015 and take effect by 2020.
Countries would also pledge greater commitment on tackling the carbon problem in the interim years before 2020.
Countries would also pledge greater commitment on tackling the carbon problem in the interim years before 2020.
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