Can China Reduce Emissions by 30% by 2035? - with Belinda Schäpe of CREA

Can China Reduce Emissions by 30% by 2035? - with Belinda Schäpe of CREA

Author: Beijing Energy Network December 7, 2024 Duration: 25:33

According to a recent report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), by sustaining its current expansion rate of renewable energy, China could cut 30% of power sector emissions & increase non-fossil energy share to over 40%. This would require renewable capacity of 5,000 GW by 2035 (roughly 3x current renewable capacity, or 4x current wind and solar capacity) and halting approvals of all new unabated coal power plants. CREA's report argues these goals can only be achieved through robust national targets, such as through the forthcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets. 

In this podcast, we speak with CREA's Belinda Schäpe about the details of this analysis, which was reported on in detail in Reuters, Bloomberg, and AFP. 

Belinda is a China Policy Analyst with the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) where she analysis China's decarbonisation journey and advises policymakers on their diplomatic engagement with China. Previously, Belinda worked on climate diplomacy with China at the climate change think tank E3G, at the European Commission, Dialogue Earth, and a number of organisation working on economic cooperation between Europe and China. Belinda holds a double master's degree in International Affairs from the London School of Economics and Peking University and a bachelor's degree in Chinese Studies and Business Administration from Tübingen University. 

The full report from CREA is available here:

https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/chinas-clean-energy-trends-could-cut-emissions-by-30-in-2035-if-sustained/ 


Produced by the Beijing Energy Network, Environment China is a bilingual podcast that delves into the complex and vital stories shaping China's ecological landscape. Rather than offering broad pronouncements, it focuses on grounded conversations with the people on the front lines: the advocates campaigning for change, the entrepreneurs building sustainable solutions, and the researchers providing crucial data. Each episode explores the intersection of society, culture, and science, revealing how environmental policy and daily life are intertwined. You'll hear specific discussions about conservation efforts, green technology, urban design, and community initiatives, all framed within the unique context of modern China. This podcast provides a necessary platform for these nuanced voices, translating complex issues into accessible dialogue. It’s an essential listen for anyone seeking to move beyond headlines and understand the real-world work being done to address environmental challenges. By listening to Environment China, you gain insight into the multifaceted movement towards sustainability, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Environment China
Podcast Episodes
Emergency Podcast! Sunnylands Declaration and COP28 - with Li Shuo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:13
This is an emergency podcast about the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, which was released just a day ago. Top US and China climate negotiators Xie Zhenhua and John Kerry have…
Coal is back – with Sam Clissold of Carbon Tracker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:19
Coal in China is seeing a multi-year resurgence after years in which the government seemed ready to dial back and ultimately halt coal power construction. Indeed, just months after the 2020 announcement by Xi Jinping on…
"Greener than Ever"? The BRI turns 10! - with Christoph Nedopil-Wang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:47
The Belt-and-Road Initiative (BRI) has reached the ripe old age of 10 this month. Those 10 years have seen a lot of change, including on topics like the relative focus on clean energy versus fossil fuels and the interest…
Marine plastics with Liu Xiao (Women in Sustainability) [Chinese] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:04
In this episode of our Women in Sustainability series, we are speaking again with Dr Liu Xiao about marine waste and the broader topic of waste and recycling in general. We talk with Dr Liu about a typical day at work on…
The evolution of China's climate diplomacy – with Taylah Bland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:45
In this episode of our Women in Sustainability series, we are talking about the evolution and underpinnings of China's climate diplomacy. Our guest is Taylah Bland, Schwarzman Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute'…
Sustainable forestry and the role of China – with Beibei Yin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
Today's podcast looks at the topic of sustainable forestry and the role of China, particularly at the role of Chinese banks. Our guest is Beibei Yin, who researches the intersection of China's policies on forestry practi…