China is Capable of Leading Global Climate Governance
721
2 China’s Strategies of Becoming a Leader in Global
Climate Governance
It’s necessary to make it clear that becoming a “leader” means that we should have a
leading edge, play an exemplary role, assume due responsibilities, and be committed
to promoting public interests. In this regard, the report of the 19th National Congress
pointed out the direction for China’s future strategic choices in global climate governance: “The whole Party must be completely clear about this fundamental dimension
of our national context, and must base our work on this most important reality—
the primary stage of socialism” and “get actively involved in global environmental
governance and fulfill our commitments on emissions reduction.” On the one hand,
we should make domestic emission reduction efforts and projects that help developing countries overseas according to our national conditions, and we should do
everything in our capacity, and follow objective development laws; on the other
hand, taking the lead in addressing climate change means greater responsibilities for
cutting emissions. At present, China’s primary task is to keep promoting green and
low-carbon development at home, accelerate ecological civilization, lay the foundation for domestic economic development, and accumulate advantages in mitigating
and adaptation to climate change, in order to help realize global emission reduction
targets.
1. China’s proposal to be a leader is a strategic response to international
expectations
Currently, the global climate governance system has seen a new situation. On the
one hand, the world economy is slowly recovering, with an improving global green
development trend; on the other hand, the center of global climate governance is gradually moving eastward. The US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has shaken
the confidence of the international community in achieving low-carbon growth and
emission reduction targets. Therefore, the United States has since lost its leadership
in global climate governance. What’s more, the EU is now losing strength, having
internal differences, and is slow in action. By contrast, China is playing a constructive
role in reforming and adjusting the global environmental governance system.
Over the past few years, China has been more and more active in advising and
providing Chinese approach at the organizations of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and within the multilateral mechanism framework,
and has become an important force in promoting global governance. During this
period, using the “Xi-style diplomacy,” China has proactively participated in global
governance. Some western countries and international organizations—including
leaders of the United States, France, the United Nations, and the International Monetary Fund—even advocated on multilateral and bilateral occasions that China should
play a leading role in global climate governance. China has now achieved initial
results in its building of ecological civilization, and its contributions to the world
have received recognition from the international community. As such, the world
721
2 China’s Strategies of Becoming a Leader in Global
Climate Governance
It’s necessary to make it clear that becoming a “leader” means that we should have a
leading edge, play an exemplary role, assume due responsibilities, and be committed
to promoting public interests. In this regard, the report of the 19th National Congress
pointed out the direction for China’s future strategic choices in global climate governance: “The whole Party must be completely clear about this fundamental dimension
of our national context, and must base our work on this most important reality—
the primary stage of socialism” and “get actively involved in global environmental
governance and fulfill our commitments on emissions reduction.” On the one hand,
we should make domestic emission reduction efforts and projects that help developing countries overseas according to our national conditions, and we should do
everything in our capacity, and follow objective development laws; on the other
hand, taking the lead in addressing climate change means greater responsibilities for
cutting emissions. At present, China’s primary task is to keep promoting green and
low-carbon development at home, accelerate ecological civilization, lay the foundation for domestic economic development, and accumulate advantages in mitigating
and adaptation to climate change, in order to help realize global emission reduction
targets.
1. China’s proposal to be a leader is a strategic response to international
expectations
Currently, the global climate governance system has seen a new situation. On the
one hand, the world economy is slowly recovering, with an improving global green
development trend; on the other hand, the center of global climate governance is gradually moving eastward. The US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has shaken
the confidence of the international community in achieving low-carbon growth and
emission reduction targets. Therefore, the United States has since lost its leadership
in global climate governance. What’s more, the EU is now losing strength, having
internal differences, and is slow in action. By contrast, China is playing a constructive
role in reforming and adjusting the global environmental governance system.
Over the past few years, China has been more and more active in advising and
providing Chinese approach at the organizations of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and within the multilateral mechanism framework,
and has become an important force in promoting global governance. During this
period, using the “Xi-style diplomacy,” China has proactively participated in global
governance. Some western countries and international organizations—including
leaders of the United States, France, the United Nations, and the International Monetary Fund—even advocated on multilateral and bilateral occasions that China should
play a leading role in global climate governance. China has now achieved initial
results in its building of ecological civilization, and its contributions to the world
have received recognition from the international community. As such, the world