Archive for China

Comparing China’s Impact on Global CO2 Emissions Based on Reductions from 1990 and 2000 Levels

March 23, 2009 · Filed under China, Kyoto Protocol and IPCC · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

By Craig Cammarata

Despite passing the United States as the largest contributor to global CO2 emissions in 2006, China is not classified as an Annex I country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and therefore, is not required to reduce its CO2 emissions. This paper evaluates the impact that categorizing China as an Annex I country, and thus requiring China to report and reduce its CO2 emissions below a designated percentage of a base year, would have on global CO2 emissions. Specifically, the paper evaluates China’s projected reductions according to two base-year scenarios, 1990 and 2000 levels.

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Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Requirements in China Under Annex 1 Scenario for Second Commitment Period of Kyoto Protocol

March 8, 2009 · Filed under China, Kyoto Protocol and IPCC · Tagged , , ,

by Mark Ellis

At the UNFCCC’s 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen this December member nations will seek to assess Kyoto Protocol targets for the first commitment period (2008-2012) and establish a new set of agreements for the second commitment period (2013-2017). On the agenda will be a focused discussion on regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in developing, non-Annex 1 nations, where GHG emissions growth is expected to be most rapid. China sits atop the list of non-Annex 1 Parties currently exempt from binding emissions goals in the first commitment period, recently having superseded even the United States in annual GHG emissions. Given the push to regulate emissions in developing countries, paralleled by China’s economic growth, this report investigates the significance of choosing the base year should from which China would be required to reduce its GHG emissions should it become an Annex 1 Party.

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