Climate Change Perspectives: the path of China

2050 is just 28 years from now, which means it's close enough that one can figure it out, but it's also far enough away that one cannot tell what it is going to be like. How will the global economic order change by 2050? How will humanity manage and control climate change, or adapt to it without tragic self-destruction? A year ago, at COP26 in Glasgow, China and the United States signed a joint declaration to strengthen climate cooperation and respect the limits set by the Paris Agreement over the next decade. The initiative was announced by the Chinese special envoy for the climate, Xie Zhenhua, and by the American counterpart, John Kerry. As superpowers, China and the United States have international responsibilities and obligations according to which the two countries must "think big" and actively coordinate their environmental actions. In the statement, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to "keep the global average temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius, continuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees." The two powers also announced new, common goals: Beijing and Washington will implement national action plans to reduce methane emissions, promote renewable technologies and set up a working group that will meet regularly "to advance the multilateral process". What is China doing to achieve this? Is it realistic? And above all, can climate really represent a priority for China, or be placed in a second position with respect to other emergencies on economic conditions? China is showing enormous attention to the pandemic, with tight control of the virus. Will this attention be applied equally to comply with measures against climate change? Nevertheless, Europe, who is facing an energy transition never been so challenging, still needs to answer many questions. What could be the EU role in this dialogue? Can the EU still be the “normative power” it has been for decades?

Programma

Opening
Roberto Pagani, former Science and Technology Counsellor, Consulate General of Italy, Shanghai

Session in English
Prologue: how international energy transition is challenging?
Zha Daojiong, Peking University, PRC (video)
Flora Kan, Team Leader EU-China Energy Cooperation Platform

Sessione in Italiano
Dialogo
Alberto Bradanini, già Ambasciatore della Repubblica Italiana nella Repubblica Popolare Cinese
Giorgio Prodi, Dipartimento di Economia e Management, Università di Ferrara

Moderatore: Roberto Pagani

Conclusione
Catia Bastioli, Presidente Kyoto Club, AD Novamont
Gianni Silvestrini, Direttore Scientifico Kyoto Club