Reality Check: Can China Achieve Its Climate Goals?

Events over the past year, ranging from energy shortages to commitments on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, have reshaped China’s energy and climate policy arena. At the same time, economic and diplomatic developments are creating both momentum and new obstacles to decarbonization. In the post-COP26 environment, what is China’s climate trajectory? Can we expect bold reforms that will result in peaking emissions earlier and lower than currently expected, or will a gradualist approach undermine reaching the decarbonization targets the world needs? What is the role of international competition or cooperation in having China achieve more ambitious results?

Please join the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics for a discussion on China’s climate outlook with four panelists who will examine these questions from the economic, political and diplomatic perspectives: Michael Davidson of the University of California, San Diego, Michal Meidan of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Byford Tsang of E3G, and Alex Wang of the School of Law at UCLA. Ilaria Mazzocco, Fellow of the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, will host and moderate the discussion.