This is the last night before I leave for Marrakech. But I do not know how to describe my feelings now. Excited because I am leaving for COP 22 soon, but also a little reluctant. Right after the election, Chinese people have been sharing posts in Wechat, the most popular Chinese social media app, saying that there is no need to negotiate any more since the U. S. will withdraw very soon and we will never hit the 2 Celsius degree anyway. I would feel extremely upset if what I saw there in Marrakech is as disappointing as those comments.
But as I read recent official news and reports from Chinese government, I come to feel cheered up. Before the election, on 1st Nov, the State Council of Information Office of China held a news conference on China’s recent policy response to climate change, achievements and also plan for the future. When asked how China would work with a Trump administration on climate change, Xie Zhenhua, the lead negotiator for China in the last three COPs, expressed the standpoint of Chinese government by commenting that[i] “a wise political leader should make policy in line with global trends”. He then updated on China’s plan on national carbon trading scheme which would be launched next year and other policies.
Xie Zhenhua Answering Questions in the News Conference[i]
Right after the election day, Zou Ji, deputy director-general of National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC) in China, answered in an interview that[ii] “We should not merely be looking at the president, Whitehouse and federal government. We still have subnational actors, as well as non-state actors”.
These news make me feel much better. At least China is still ready to fight climate change regardless of the uncertain future of partnership combating climate change between the United States and China. I would focus on China’s attitudes and response when I am there in Marrakech and I would further learn about how subnational and non-state actors in the U.S. and in China can push to reach the 2 Celsius goal in the future.
[i]http://www.scio.gov.cn/xwfbh/xwbfbh/wqfbh/33978/35364/wz35366/Document/1514588/1514588.htm and http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-china-idUSKBN12W349
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