Engaging Emerging Countries: Implications of China’s Major Shifts in Climate Policy

Abstract

Engaging developing countries, especially emerging counties such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, is a central challenge for international climate policy. While the world is still debating the outcome of international climate negotiations, China has been quietly developing its leadership in clean energy and moving towards a low-carbon economy and society. By end 2009, for instance, China had become the world’s leading new wind installer, solar exporter and new nuclear capacity constructor, in total, as well as the world’s top investor in clean energy, while at the same time becoming the world’s biggest carbon dioxide emitter. China’s move towards a low-carbon economy will have big implications on global energy and climate policy. China’s transition typifies a unique opportunity for developed economies to engage emerging economies in the global climate efforts.