3. Risks caused by the interaction
between climate and human beings
The risks of climate change are systemic. The interaction between climate and
complex human systems can lead to high
levels of risk. The frequent occurrence of
extreme weather events has a huge impact
on global food security which, combined
with policies and market reaction, will
result in unprecedented hikes in the global
price of grain.
Climate change also increases the probability of extreme events. For example,
during the 2007–11 drought in Syria, the
interaction between climate change and
grain export restrictions, resource pressure
and poor national governance led to turmoil.
Extreme water and land shortages can
lead to regional conflicts and large-scale
migration, which increases the risk of state
failure and can even threaten the stability
of developed countries.
10.4 China’s Strategic Vision
for International Energy
Cooperation
To establish a stable, effective and sustainable
energy supply system, China must strengthen
international energy cooperation to deliver a
win-win situation. Strategically, China should
deepen international energy cooperation in five
areas: multi-level international energy cooperation
partners, multi-channel international energy cooperation methods, diversified forms of international
energy cooperation, multi-area international energy
cooperation content, and multi-task international
energy cooperation processes (Fig. 52).
10.4.1 Multi-level International Energy
Cooperation Partners
Participants in international energy activities
include not only energy exporters, importers and
transit countries, but also international energy
organisations and international energy companies. Therefore, in international energy cooperation, China needs to have multi-level partners.
In addition to strengthening cooperation with
governments, China should also work with
supranational, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations, as well as
with international energy companies. Currently,
Russia, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and
countries in Latin America and North Africa are
the major energy exporters. Because energy
exporters are usually dominant in international
energy cooperation, China needs to strengthen its
cooperation with them and develop collaborative
energy projects through mergers and acquisitions, equity participation and bidding. Currently,
the USA, Western Europe and Japan are the
major energy importers. There is potential for
both competition and cooperation between China
and energy importers, so it is important to
strengthen communication and cooperation with
large oil consumers (such as the USA, Japan,
India and others) and reduce or avoid friction.
Besides, China needs to enhance its cooperation
with international oil exporting and consumption
organisations, in particular the International
Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organization of
the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and
actively participate in the Energy Charter Conference, the International Energy Forum and
United Nations energy conferences.
China also needs to develop international
energy cooperation in crude oil with large international energy companies. It should do this by
integrating oil resources and related channels in
international energy markets and by establishing
strategic alliances with these companies and
national oil companies to gain more access to
resources and projects.
Special Report 5: International Energy Cooperation and Governance
669
between climate and human beings
The risks of climate change are systemic. The interaction between climate and
complex human systems can lead to high
levels of risk. The frequent occurrence of
extreme weather events has a huge impact
on global food security which, combined
with policies and market reaction, will
result in unprecedented hikes in the global
price of grain.
Climate change also increases the probability of extreme events. For example,
during the 2007–11 drought in Syria, the
interaction between climate change and
grain export restrictions, resource pressure
and poor national governance led to turmoil.
Extreme water and land shortages can
lead to regional conflicts and large-scale
migration, which increases the risk of state
failure and can even threaten the stability
of developed countries.
10.4 China’s Strategic Vision
for International Energy
Cooperation
To establish a stable, effective and sustainable
energy supply system, China must strengthen
international energy cooperation to deliver a
win-win situation. Strategically, China should
deepen international energy cooperation in five
areas: multi-level international energy cooperation
partners, multi-channel international energy cooperation methods, diversified forms of international
energy cooperation, multi-area international energy
cooperation content, and multi-task international
energy cooperation processes (Fig. 52).
10.4.1 Multi-level International Energy
Cooperation Partners
Participants in international energy activities
include not only energy exporters, importers and
transit countries, but also international energy
organisations and international energy companies. Therefore, in international energy cooperation, China needs to have multi-level partners.
In addition to strengthening cooperation with
governments, China should also work with
supranational, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations, as well as
with international energy companies. Currently,
Russia, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and
countries in Latin America and North Africa are
the major energy exporters. Because energy
exporters are usually dominant in international
energy cooperation, China needs to strengthen its
cooperation with them and develop collaborative
energy projects through mergers and acquisitions, equity participation and bidding. Currently,
the USA, Western Europe and Japan are the
major energy importers. There is potential for
both competition and cooperation between China
and energy importers, so it is important to
strengthen communication and cooperation with
large oil consumers (such as the USA, Japan,
India and others) and reduce or avoid friction.
Besides, China needs to enhance its cooperation
with international oil exporting and consumption
organisations, in particular the International
Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organization of
the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and
actively participate in the Energy Charter Conference, the International Energy Forum and
United Nations energy conferences.
China also needs to develop international
energy cooperation in crude oil with large international energy companies. It should do this by
integrating oil resources and related channels in
international energy markets and by establishing
strategic alliances with these companies and
national oil companies to gain more access to
resources and projects.
Special Report 5: International Energy Cooperation and Governance
669