Chinese modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature is China's plan for global climate and ecological governance, and its core is to build a community of life between man and nature. The theory not only demonstrates China's responsible attitude towards actively responding to climate change and building an ecological civilization, conforming to the trend of green, low-carbon and sustainable development, but also provides a reference model for developing countries to choose from and move towards modernization.
A plan for global governance in China at the right time
Human production and life are having a wide impact on the natural environment on which we depend. Agricultural, economic, environmental, and security problems brought about by extreme weather and ecological deterioration are not something that a country or region can deal with and solve. Global problems can only be solved through collective negotiation among countries, and appropriate solutions to the specific national conditions of different countries on how to govern, who governs, and what to govern.
Global climate governance is at risk of disorder. The "generalization" and fragmentation of participants have exacerbated the complexity of global governance. In addition to the United Nations, many regional platform cooperation networks have emerged in recent years, and non-governmental organizations, social groups, market sectors and sub-national actors represented by cities have entered the field of climate governance, bringing more variables and uncertainties to global governance in this field.
The reshaping of international rules has been accelerated, and the competition and game between countries in resources, capital, and technology have intensified. Under the guidance of geopolitical thinking, developed countries represented by Europe and the United States have pulled the global governance model to the direction of "legally binding, non-discriminatory and market-oriented", developing countries have been further divided, the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" is being ignored, the EU's unilateral carbon tariffs have begun to be implemented, and climate governance is developing in the direction of being more advanced and instrumentalized.
The imbalance in development has intensified, and the international financing pattern has become unbalanced. The outbreak of the new crown epidemic has made the issue of financing in global climate governance more prominent. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate finance has been a major obstacle for developing countries to take effective measures to reduce emissions. According to the United Nations' World Investment Report 2014, the global investment needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2015 to 2030 is US$5 trillion to US$8 trillion per year. Among them, the annual funding scale of developing countries is about 39 trillion dollars. Affected by the pandemic, economic downturn and other factors, the lack of global investment has led to a financing gap for developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2$5 trillion to $4$2 trillion. To make matters worse, developed countries have failed to deliver on their pledge to provide $100 billion a year in climate assistance to low-income countries by 2020, a serious undermining of global confidence in low-carbon investment.
In contrast, developed countries are increasing investment in renewable energy and accelerating the green transition. In order to achieve the goals of reducing emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, the EU has stipulated that 30% of the funds in the multi-year fiscal framework from 2021 to 2027 will be allocated to climate change-related activities. In addition, the European Commission has pledged to allocate 37% of the €750 billion "Next Generation EU" recovery** to climate change-related projects. The United States passed the Inflation Reduction Act to invest heavily in renewable energy technology research and development and industrial development.
Against this backdrop, Chinese modernization has shattered the myth of "modernization = Westernization" and provided Chinese wisdom and solutions for troubled global governance.
It is the source of motivation for the implementation of China's plan for global governance
In the face of disorder, imbalance and dysfunction of the international landscape, the President pointed out at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly that "there is only one system in the world, and that is the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one order, and that is the international order based on international law. There is only one set of rules, the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations". This is a clear expression of China's commitment to multilateralism and international law.
The global governance scheme with Chinese characteristics has been increasingly recognized by the international community. In May 2016, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the report "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets: China's Ecological Civilization Strategy and Actions", fully recognizing China's measures and achievements in the construction of ecological civilization. In 2018, the 26th BASIC Ministerial Conference on Climate Change issued a joint statement, for the first time, the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" was embodied in a multilateral international document in the field of climate change. In September 2020, the President pointed out that "China will increase its nationally determined contributions, adopt more robust policies and measures, strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030, and strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060". In 2021, at the Leaders' Climate Summit, President ** proposed to "jointly build a community of life for man and nature".
As a country with a large population and a developing country, China's concept of global climate governance has shifted from passive follow-up to active participation. In the more than 30 years since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, China has played a significant role in global climate governance, from "impossible" and "inappropriate" to quantifying emissions reductions in voluntary GDP, specifying carbon emission peaks in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), launching a nationwide carbon trading market, and establishing South-South cooperation on climate change under the framework of the United Nations.
Sustainability of the China Program for Global Governance
China is deeply involved in global climate governance with concrete actions, and a series of initiatives committed to promoting inclusiveness and common development are China's major contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.
First, under the guidance of the principles of the new type of international relations, we should actively seek multilateral or bilateral cooperation mechanisms. We should uphold fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the basic norms governing international relations with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as the cornerstone, advocate multilateralism, respect the right of the people of all countries to independently choose their own development path, uphold international fairness and justice, and oppose imposing one's will on others, interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and bullying the weak with the strong. For the first time, China has placed development issues in a prominent position in the G20 global macro policy framework, formulated the G20 Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and formulated the G20 Initiative on Industrialization for Africa and the Least Developed Countries for the first time.
Second, in the context of the widening gap between the "North and the South" in climate finance, China has continued to carry out financial cooperation and technology promotion in developing countries, while emphasizing the need for developed countries to provide finance and technology to developing countries. Since 2011, China has invested a total of 2700 million yuan was used for South-South cooperation on climate change, and 12 countries signed memorandums of understanding on climate change materials, and 200 clean energy and environmental protection projects were built for developing countries. Since 2016, under the South-South Cooperation** mechanism, China has successively launched 10 low-carbon demonstration zones, 100 climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and 1,000 climate change training places in developing countries.
Third, climate diplomacy should be carried out within the framework of true multilateralism. The common values based on a community with a shared future for mankind will replace the "universal values" in the Western discourse system, the US-led "hegemonic, hegemonic and bullying" governance will be replaced by multilateralism, and the narrow geopolitical game will be replaced by peaceful development. Combine initiatives such as the green Belt and Road Initiative and the Building a Clean and Beautiful World to carry out international cooperation projects. Through the establishment of multilateral mechanisms and multilateral financial development institutions such as South-South Cooperation on Climate Change**, China-UN Peace and Development**, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a set of climate development and cooperation models with Chinese characteristics has been gradually explored based on the practice of South-South cooperation.
Fourth, adhere to the top-level design and overall layout. China has incorporated climate change into its national strategy. After the construction of ecological civilization was included in the overall layout of socialism with Chinese characteristics, in May 2018, the general secretary of the first national ecological security conference included ecological security and climate change response in the national strategy. In December 2020, the chairman announced at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit that by 2030, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will drop by more than 65% compared with 2005, the proportion of non-fossil energy in primary energy consumption will reach about 25%, the forest stock will increase by 6 billion cubic meters compared with 2005, and the capacity of wind and solar power generation will reach more than 1.2 billion kilowatts. In addition, the carbon market is an "accelerator" for China to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The national carbon emission trading market has been officially launched in 2021, and market-oriented and functional carbon emission trading will enter the fast lane. In the same year, China announced that it would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, demonstrating China's action and determination to combat climate change.
Fifth, reduce pollution and carbon emissions, and synergize the effect. Establishing and improving a green, low-carbon and circular economic system and promoting the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development are the basic strategies to solve the problems of resources, environment and ecology. Promote the transformation of green development methods and lifestyles, formulate national strategic emerging industry development plans, focus on green and low-carbon technology innovation and application, guide green consumption, promote green products, increase the proportion of new energy applications, comprehensively improve industrial energy efficiency, build a unified green product certification and labeling system, increase the supply of green products and services, and actively cultivate green markets.
China's green development is a path of harmonious coexistence and benign interaction between human society and the natural world. In terms of climate change and ecological construction, China is drawing a "blueprint" for high efficiency, environmental protection, emission reduction, temperature control, and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Under the guidance of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China's Chinese modernization, which adheres to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, proves to the world that by building a fairer and more just international order, China's peaceful development will not only benefit itself, but also the world.
This paper is a phased achievement of the National Social Science Key Project "Research on the Current Situation, Institutional Dilemma and Development Trend of Capitalism in the United States and Europe under the Impact of the New Crown Epidemic" (21AGJ003).
The author is an associate researcher at the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and a special researcher at the Research Center for Socialist Thought with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Author: Cao Hui **China Social Sciences Daily, Issue 2789, December 7, 2023.