Five tips for China to realize its co-targets of climate mitigation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

In 2018, a total of US$166 billion global economic losses and a new high of 55.3 Gt of CO₂ equivalent emission were generated by 831 climate-related extreme events. As the world's largest CO₂ emitter, we reported China's recent progresses and pitfalls in climate actions to achieve climate mitigation targets (i.e., limit warming to 1.5-2°C above the pre-industrial level). We first summarized China's integrated actions (2015 onwards) that benefit both climate change mitigation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These projects include re-structuring organizations, establishing working goals and actions, amending laws and regulations at national level, as well as increasing social awareness at community level. We then pointed out the shortcomings in different regions and sectors. Based on these analyses, we proposed five recommendations to help China improving its climate policy strategies, which include: 1) restructuring the economy to balance short-term and long-term conflicts; 2) developing circular economy with recycling mechanism and infrastructure; 3) building up unified national standards and more accurate indicators; 4) completing market mechanism for green economy and encouraging green consumption; and 5) enhancing technology innovations and local incentives via bottom-up actions.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Climate change / Sustainable Development Goals / Climate policy / China

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Appendix

The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The 17 Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.

(SDGs website: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/)

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