Useful material (China)
Article from: OGEL 1 (2008), in China Energy Law and Policy
Changing Climates - Interdependencies on Energy and Climate Security for China and Europe
A Chatham House Report, November 2007
www.eu-china-energy-climate.net/documents/Changing_Climates_Report_2007.pdf (Last checked March 2008)
November 2007: Chatham House released a major report on the energy and climate interdependencies of China and the European Union (EU). It reveals how Chinese and European energy policies both contain ambitious goals to improve energy efficiency and make greater use of renewable energy.
China is the world's biggest emitter of CO2 and is currently building two power stations every week. By 2030 it is estimated that China will build around 1200 GW of new electrical generating capacity. However, the report reveals that in the same period the EU is expected to build over 800 GW - the average European currently uses three times as much energy as someone living in China.
The report offers a series of concrete and pragmatic measures on which the EU and China can collaborate to meet their climate and energy goals and to avoid potentially catastrophic climate impacts.
- European trade barriers which make Chinese goods more expensive should be lowered to allow energy-efficient imports to be purchased for less.
- Technology that reduces emissions from coal in Europe should be universally applied to power stations being built in China now, while joint research into more sustainable options for coal is undertaken.
- Low-carbon economic zones should be established that enable sustainable- energy manufacturing, products and services to be developed on unprecedented scales to demonstrate their economic and technical viability.
China Energy News
The China Institute at the University of Alberta (CIUA) keeps track of recent developments and news via its website: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/chinainstitute/resources.cfm (Last checked March 2008)