724
G. Zhuang
Switzerland that the Paris Agreement is in line with the general direction of global
development and the results are hard to come by, and should be held together and
cannot be given up. He also stressed the need to raise the consciousness of building a
community with a shared future for mankind, and promoted shared responsibility and
mutual accountability to advance development across the world. This was a Chinese
leader’s high-profile response to the problems of global governance and international
order that the international community is concerned about, including climate change,
and it clearly expressed China’s willingness to adhere to multilateralism and the Paris
Agreement.
Since the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, China has been expressing
more and more voices in climate governance, and it has played a pivotal role in
shaping new mechanisms for global climate governance. However, China must be
aware that many aspects are yet to be improved, with tons of problems to be resolved,
and therefore it still lacks the power to lead global climate governance alone. Moreover, it is still in the primary stage of socialism and has to enhance its strength. China
has to strengthen its ecological civilization, deepen the concept of green development, and improve its independent innovation capabilities to ensure leadership in a
desired manner. In addition, the United States, the European Union, Japan, India and
other major power groups may not be willing to be led. Therefore, before achieving
the carbon emission peak target in 2030, China must increase international coordination and cooperation with the BASIC countries—a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries including Brazil, South Africa, India and China—the European
Union, and the United States, in order to explore flexible and effective climate negotiation models, jointly lead the climate negotiation process, implement the negotiation
results, and set an example for the world.
The entry into force of the Paris Agreement marks the compliance stage of global
climate governance after 2020. The top-level design of global climate governance is
facing reconstruction, and China will assume more international responsibilities. On
the one hand, China needs to make a successful transition as soon as possible, set
an example for countries around the world, and accumulate leadership capabilities;
on the other hand, China should make long-term choices at the strategic level for its
participation in global climate governance, offer assistance to developing countries
based on its own capabilities, and help underdeveloped countries enhance their insufficient capacities in terms of capital, technology, institutions and policies. From the
perspective of the complexity of climate governance and the trend of multipolar world
development, China’s leadership will not be exclusive, and will reflect inclusiveness
and co-construction instead.
In the short to medium term (2020–2035), China must respond to changes in
climate governance, deepen the concept of green development, lay the foundation
for ecological civilization, continue to leverage its advantages and participate in
global climate governance, and implement the goal of voluntary contributions of
the Paris Agreement to showcase its achievements of low-carbon development,
while enhancing its international influence through South-South climate cooperation. Moreover, China should strengthen its cooperation with the United States, the
Central Europe, and the BASIC countries, interact with the international community
G. Zhuang
Switzerland that the Paris Agreement is in line with the general direction of global
development and the results are hard to come by, and should be held together and
cannot be given up. He also stressed the need to raise the consciousness of building a
community with a shared future for mankind, and promoted shared responsibility and
mutual accountability to advance development across the world. This was a Chinese
leader’s high-profile response to the problems of global governance and international
order that the international community is concerned about, including climate change,
and it clearly expressed China’s willingness to adhere to multilateralism and the Paris
Agreement.
Since the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, China has been expressing
more and more voices in climate governance, and it has played a pivotal role in
shaping new mechanisms for global climate governance. However, China must be
aware that many aspects are yet to be improved, with tons of problems to be resolved,
and therefore it still lacks the power to lead global climate governance alone. Moreover, it is still in the primary stage of socialism and has to enhance its strength. China
has to strengthen its ecological civilization, deepen the concept of green development, and improve its independent innovation capabilities to ensure leadership in a
desired manner. In addition, the United States, the European Union, Japan, India and
other major power groups may not be willing to be led. Therefore, before achieving
the carbon emission peak target in 2030, China must increase international coordination and cooperation with the BASIC countries—a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries including Brazil, South Africa, India and China—the European
Union, and the United States, in order to explore flexible and effective climate negotiation models, jointly lead the climate negotiation process, implement the negotiation
results, and set an example for the world.
The entry into force of the Paris Agreement marks the compliance stage of global
climate governance after 2020. The top-level design of global climate governance is
facing reconstruction, and China will assume more international responsibilities. On
the one hand, China needs to make a successful transition as soon as possible, set
an example for countries around the world, and accumulate leadership capabilities;
on the other hand, China should make long-term choices at the strategic level for its
participation in global climate governance, offer assistance to developing countries
based on its own capabilities, and help underdeveloped countries enhance their insufficient capacities in terms of capital, technology, institutions and policies. From the
perspective of the complexity of climate governance and the trend of multipolar world
development, China’s leadership will not be exclusive, and will reflect inclusiveness
and co-construction instead.
In the short to medium term (2020–2035), China must respond to changes in
climate governance, deepen the concept of green development, lay the foundation
for ecological civilization, continue to leverage its advantages and participate in
global climate governance, and implement the goal of voluntary contributions of
the Paris Agreement to showcase its achievements of low-carbon development,
while enhancing its international influence through South-South climate cooperation. Moreover, China should strengthen its cooperation with the United States, the
Central Europe, and the BASIC countries, interact with the international community