Society & Economy
As China’s industrialisation continues, its society and economy are undergoing transformations which have important environmental repercussions. Related challenges, like pollution and emissions, are shared by the EU. Comparatively analysing economic mechanisms within both territories, researchers are identifying commonalities which could encourage collective green policymaking between the EU and China
important in the context of general climate policy issues, post Kyoto. We hope our work could potentially be used to inform environmental policy negotiations.” According to the Finnish research
group’s findings, the internal development of
specific Chinese industrial sectors
could result in different levels of emissions being released.
that, if economic growth is concentrated in the electronics sector, where power consumption is comparatively light, energy use might be reduced,” says Luukkanen.
“We propose
“This has a corresponding
effect on emissions. Conversely, if expansion was more
rapid in energy-
intensive heavy industries like steel and cement production, emission rates would increase more quickly.” Such trends are often representative of
Understanding economic
catalysts for climate change in China and the EU
China’s economy grew by 7.2% during 2013 – indicative of the nation’s dynamic emergence as formidable power on the world stage. Yet, despite its undeniable material progress, many of the environmental
pitfalls that tainted
previous industrial revolutions, and continue to besmirch the EU, threaten to detract from China’s onward march. “China is a very important player, if one
considers climate change on a global scale,” argues Jyrki Luukkanen. “It’s now the world’s largest emitter of CO2
gases.
Many scientists regard climate change, caused by greenhouse gas emissions, as the greatest threat humanity will face during the next century – or perhaps even sooner.” A research director from the national
Finland Futures Research Centre at the University of Turku, Luukkanen’s work
86
examines the possible outcomes of policies concerning energy, development and the environment. His current project considers EU and Chinese approaches, and specifically how economic structures influence (yet are simultaneously influenced by) climate change. Funded by the Academy of Finland throughout its two-year duration, the venture is an international collaboration between five senior academics at Turku, and their Chinese counterparts at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). “Data gathered by our researchers in
Europe and China indicates that the economy determines the majority of energy usage and, hence, CO2
emissions.
Consequently, it can in many respects be considered the fundamental driver of climate change,” says Luukkanen. “Awareness of its functions is hence very
wider ideological shifts, argue the researchers. China’s embrace of urbanisation is a paradigm of the principle, since this impetus creates demands for new buildings and materials – thus stimulating demand for energy- intensive resources. The ‘energy mix’ used by Chinese industry is also an important
determinant of emissions,
since, although an exploiter of coal and nuclear power, the country is also a significant investor in wind power technology. Indeed, in 2013, power generated from national wind assets surpassed that provided by nuclear sources. “Solar PV energy products are also proliferating throughout China,” adds Luukkanen. The country is not only a manufacturer, but also a developer of these technologies, which could ultimately make a big difference to its future emission levels. However, the role of the Finland Futures
Research Centre is not to offer predictions,but rather to examine specific scenarios. Using techniques such as Advanced Sustainability Analysis (ASA) and Trend Impact Analysis (TIA), the group’s task is to “examine different possible developmental pathways”. To facilitate their interpretations, two types of planning models have been used, and an analysis of Chinese environmental policies has been conducted, to enhance their validity. “Communist leaders have
Insight Publishers | Projects
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112