China: Tackle the Challenge of Global Climate Change

Global climate change is one of the challenges ever to confront humanity with the largest scale, widest scope and most far-reaching influence. As the biggest developing country with the largest population, China is the world’s leading consumer of coal and energy, and one of the worst-hit victims of global warming. Consequently, China should assume its responsibility in making contributions to global sustainable development. Based on the principles of fairness and efficiency, this study creatively puts forward two principles of global governance on climate change. The first entails replacement of the two-group schema of developed and developing countries with a four-group model based on the Human Development Index (HDI). The second entails application of the resulting model to specify the major emitters as principal contributors to emission reduction. In addition, it proposes a two-step strategy for China to tackle the issue of climate change. This book makes it clear that China should proactively engage in relevant international cooperation, actively participate in international climate negotiations, make clear commitments to reduce emissions, and assume the obligations of a responsible power to achieve sustainable and green development.

Angang Hu is one of the pioneers and leading authorities in the realm of Contemporary China Studies. He now serves as the Dean of the Institute of Contemporary China Studies and Professor of School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University. Qingyou Guan graduated from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences with a doctorate in economics. His research interests include economic and financial theories, energy, climate change and carbon currency, etc.