There have been four stages of climate change strategy in China. The first is the
observation stage (before 1997). From the 1990s, the adverse effects of climate
change began to be recognized globally. A climate change response agency was
established in China, charged with addressing overall climate change issues. The
second stage is the learning stage (1997–2005). China, regarded as a developing
country, had no emission reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, since 1989, it has changed its economic structure of heavy industry, promoted the use of renewable energy, and improved energy efficiency. In 1998, the
National Climate Change Countermeasures Coordination Subcommittee, consisting
of representatives of relevant ministries, was established as a place to study climate
change policy in China. Above all, the importance of realizing a low-carbon society
was recognized. Subsequently, China began to implement measures against climate
change. The third stage is the cooperation stage (2005–2013). Policy has been
strengthened since 2005 by demonstrating the importance of climate change at the
17th National People’s Congress. On June 12, 2007, the Notice of the State Council
on the Diet’s climate change countermeasures and the establishment of energysaving emission reduction sub-assemblies was published, with an emphasis on
climate change issues. Based on this notification, the Countermeasures for Climate
Change Leaders Group was established to determine critical strategies, policies, and
measures for climate change issues, operations, research, and international cooperation. Interdepartmental coordination of international policy negotiation became
important. Both government officials and NGOs began to seek public participation.
Since 2006, China has published annual national level reports on progress in
addressing climate change issues. By 2007, China had approved 1000 clean development mechanism (CDM) projects, 155 of which were registered as Chinese projects and contribute to a reduction of 92 million tons of CO 2 each year. These actions
and policies have resulted in the avoidance of some CO 2 emissions. The fourth stage
is the stage of seeking dominance (after 2013). In 2014, the United States and China
agreed to strengthen greenhouse gas reduction efforts. The United States withdrew
from the Paris Agreement in 2019, while China proposed the Belt and Road
Initiative in 2017. China promised to invest in clean energy, build scientific cooperation, and support other countries in tackling climate change. As China seeks to
lead the world in combating global climate change on behalf of the United States, the
role of controlling energy and the environment is emphasized. China is the world’s
largest greenhouse gas emitter but is continuing its efforts to reduce coal use and
expand renewable energy. In 2017, it abandoned plans to construct 103 new coalfired power plants, and the National Energy Agency announced the investment of
more than 360 billion USD in renewable energy by 2020. China also plans to expand
a carbon trading scheme originally piloted in seven provinces and cities to cover an
additional area by 2020.
There are three main climate change strategies in South Korea. The first is a
national carbon trading scheme. When launched in 2015, more than 525 companies
participated in this emission trading scheme, covering approximately 68% of
national greenhouse gas emissions. The 525 participating companies have their
own reduction targets. The Ministry of the Environment’s Certification Committee
2 Climate Change Strategy and Emission Reduction Roadmap for China, Japan, and. . .
51
observation stage (before 1997). From the 1990s, the adverse effects of climate
change began to be recognized globally. A climate change response agency was
established in China, charged with addressing overall climate change issues. The
second stage is the learning stage (1997–2005). China, regarded as a developing
country, had no emission reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, since 1989, it has changed its economic structure of heavy industry, promoted the use of renewable energy, and improved energy efficiency. In 1998, the
National Climate Change Countermeasures Coordination Subcommittee, consisting
of representatives of relevant ministries, was established as a place to study climate
change policy in China. Above all, the importance of realizing a low-carbon society
was recognized. Subsequently, China began to implement measures against climate
change. The third stage is the cooperation stage (2005–2013). Policy has been
strengthened since 2005 by demonstrating the importance of climate change at the
17th National People’s Congress. On June 12, 2007, the Notice of the State Council
on the Diet’s climate change countermeasures and the establishment of energysaving emission reduction sub-assemblies was published, with an emphasis on
climate change issues. Based on this notification, the Countermeasures for Climate
Change Leaders Group was established to determine critical strategies, policies, and
measures for climate change issues, operations, research, and international cooperation. Interdepartmental coordination of international policy negotiation became
important. Both government officials and NGOs began to seek public participation.
Since 2006, China has published annual national level reports on progress in
addressing climate change issues. By 2007, China had approved 1000 clean development mechanism (CDM) projects, 155 of which were registered as Chinese projects and contribute to a reduction of 92 million tons of CO 2 each year. These actions
and policies have resulted in the avoidance of some CO 2 emissions. The fourth stage
is the stage of seeking dominance (after 2013). In 2014, the United States and China
agreed to strengthen greenhouse gas reduction efforts. The United States withdrew
from the Paris Agreement in 2019, while China proposed the Belt and Road
Initiative in 2017. China promised to invest in clean energy, build scientific cooperation, and support other countries in tackling climate change. As China seeks to
lead the world in combating global climate change on behalf of the United States, the
role of controlling energy and the environment is emphasized. China is the world’s
largest greenhouse gas emitter but is continuing its efforts to reduce coal use and
expand renewable energy. In 2017, it abandoned plans to construct 103 new coalfired power plants, and the National Energy Agency announced the investment of
more than 360 billion USD in renewable energy by 2020. China also plans to expand
a carbon trading scheme originally piloted in seven provinces and cities to cover an
additional area by 2020.
There are three main climate change strategies in South Korea. The first is a
national carbon trading scheme. When launched in 2015, more than 525 companies
participated in this emission trading scheme, covering approximately 68% of
national greenhouse gas emissions. The 525 participating companies have their
own reduction targets. The Ministry of the Environment’s Certification Committee
2 Climate Change Strategy and Emission Reduction Roadmap for China, Japan, and. . .
51