Multilateralism a catalyst for sustainable development – Asia Times

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The pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represents a concerted effort by the international community to confront the most pressing global challenges of our era.

These goals, which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, articulate a shared vision for achieving a sustainable future that is equitable, inclusive, and resilient. The SDGs are comprehensive, covering a broad spectrum of issues, including poverty, health, education, climate change, and environmental protection.

As a collective framework, they offer a unique opportunity to transform our world by the year 2030, but this transformation demands more than just aspiration; it requires a robust commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation.

The SDGs were designed to be universal, taking into account the different realities, capacities, and levels of development across nations, and respecting national policies and priorities. However, the journey toward achieving these goals has been fraught with challenges.

Complex challenges

The complexity of the SDGs is evident as they encompass a broad range of interrelated issues.

Poverty eradication (SDG 1) remains a persistent challenge, with the World Bank reporting that more than 700 million people still live in extreme poverty, struggling to fulfill the most basic needs such as health, education, and access to water and sanitation​​.

The pursuit of zero hunger (SDG 2) is another critical challenge, as food insecurity and malnutrition continue to affect millions, compounded by the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food production.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on progress toward good health and well-being (SDG 3), disrupting global public-health achievements and impeding pathways to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all.

The repercussions extended to other SDGs, notably affecting vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and low-wage workers, particularly under SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).

Recognizing the interconnected nature of global challenges, the World Health Organization underscores the significance of strong partnerships where multilateralism is deemed essential for post-Covid recovery, aligning with the SDGs.

In addressing quality education (SDG 4), substantial progress has been made, but disparities in access and quality persist, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reported that about 258 million children and youth are out of school, indicating a significant gap in achieving inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

The goal of gender equality (SDG 5) is foundational to the SDGs, recognizing that empowering women and girls has a multiplier effect and accelerates progress across all development areas​​.

The challenges of climate action (SDG 13) are becoming ever more apparent. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of the dire consequences of global warming, which is projected to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2040 if current trends continue.

To mitigate climate change and its impacts, there is an urgent need for significant investments in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate-resilient practices.

Collaboration essential

The call for multilateralism in achieving the SDGs is not merely about collaboration but about a fundamental restructuring of international cooperation. It requires a concerted effort to create a global partnership for sustainable development (SDG 17) that is predicated on shared values, visions, and goals.

The United Nations has repeatedly emphasized the need for a renewed approach to multilateralism – one that is more networked, inclusive, and effective​​​​.

Financial reform is also a critical aspect of this new multilateralism. There is a significant financing gap in developing countries, which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), achieving the SDGs by 2030 will require an annual investment of about US$6 trillion. Closing this gap will necessitate not only increased aid and domestic resource mobilisation but also innovative financing mechanisms that can leverage private capital​​.

The digital divide presents another profound challenge in the pursuit of the SDGs. As the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports, despite growing Internet penetration, nearly half the world’s population remains offline.

Addressing this divide is crucial for ensuring access to information and knowledge, as well as for the full participation in the digital economy, which can be a lever for development and a means of achieving the SDGs​​.

In conclusion, the path toward 2030 is complex. Achieving the SDGs requires persistent efforts, innovative solutions, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism.

The world needs to bridge the gap between current realities and the sustainable future we aspire to create. This calls for a paradigm shift in the way nations cooperate, finance development, and embrace technology.

It is only through such transformative changes that the international community can hope to fulfill the ambitious agenda set forth by the SDGs and ensure that no one is left behind.

The vision for a sustainable future is within reach, but it mandates that all stakeholders work together in an unprecedented alliance of shared responsibilities and coordinated action.

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Singapore more than halfway to its 2030 solar power deployment target: Grace Fu

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SINGAPORE: Singapore is more than halfway to its solar power deployment target of at least 2,000 megawatt-peak by 2030, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Wednesday (Jan 10).

The country has doubled its solar power deployment since 2021 to over 1,000 megawatt-peak currently, she added.

The minister gave the updated figures in parliament in response to questions on Singapore’s progress in transitioning towards renewable energy. 

During the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 (COP28), Singapore co-facilitated negotiations on mitigation and the first global stocktake that contributed to the successful adoption of the UAE Consensus, which calls on countries to transition away from fossil fuels, said Ms Fu.  

The UAE Consensus also calls on countries to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency globally by 2030. 

At the conference, Singapore signed the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency pledge. 

“Singapore supports the UAE Consensus. As part of our long-term low-emissions development strategy, Singapore has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, despite being a small, alternative energy disadvantaged city-state with many natural limitations on our climate action measures,” said the minister. 

The country has been accelerating its energy transition, with solar energy as one of its key pushes. 

Solar energy is one of the four “switches” that Singapore is deploying to achieve its net-zero target by 2050. The other three are natural gas, regional power grids and low-carbon alternatives. 

Solar energy will eventually allow Singapore to meet about 10 per cent of its projected electricity demand in 2050, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) said in November last year. 

The country is on track to meet the 1,500 megawatt-peak goal of solar deployment by 2025. 

According to EMA’s Singapore Energy Statistics 2023 report, the private sector has been the driving force behind the growth in solar deployment, accounting for 63.5 per cent of the total installed capacity.

Apart from solar energy, Singapore is working towards importing low-carbon electricity from the region. 

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East Ventures consistently races in the perfect storm: 2023 recap & 2024 outlook

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90% of growth-stage startups: 30% on path to profitability, 60% profitable & 10% adapting
Anticipate SEA digital economy is well-positioned to excel in the next economic recovery cycle

The tech industry weathered an intense “perfect storm” of crises these past two years. The global economy is in a complex state characterised by uncertainty, making caution…Continue Reading

COP28 pleasantly defied all expectations

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Despite facing substantial criticism for its selection of the United Arab Emirates as host, the COP28 climate conference, which concluded last week, marked a significant milestone in global climate discussions.

While the conference was not without its shortcomings, it proved to be a crucial forum for advancing the dialogue on climate action, particularly in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Held as the world’s attention was focused on the ongoing war in Gaza, the COP28 climate conference achieved notable progress contrary to initial skepticism. Concerns about the appropriateness of holding such a conference in an oil-rich nation like the UAE were widespread.

However, the outcome of the conference suggests these concerns were unfounded. As expected, the conference’s duration, which included an additional day of negotiations, did not leave all participants happy, reflecting the varied expectations and viewpoints of the participating parties.

Yet, the very existence of these debates is a testament to the conference’s success. By fostering discussions on critical issues such as alternative energy, fossil fuel dependence, climate change, and sustainable practices for future generations, COP28 proved to be more than a ceremonial gathering; it became a catalyst for tangible actions.

This momentum was evidenced in a letter of support published by global leaders and activists supporting the conference leadership’s efforts to produce results. By the end of the conference, several substantial agreements were reached.

The conference’s outcomes were significant, marked by ground-breaking commitments from some of the world’s largest national oil companies. A notable step was the adoption of the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter.

This voluntary agreement, led by industry giants including Saudi Aramco and Brazil’s Petrobras, pledges to stop routine flaring of excess gas by 2030 and aims to eliminate almost all methane leaks.

Considering that these companies account for more than half of the global production and have historically faced less pressure to decarbonize than their publicly traded counterparts, this commitment marks a significant shift in the industry’s approach to environmental responsibility.

Furthermore, COP28 saw an ambitious commitment to drastically increase the world’s renewable energy generation capacity. The agreement to triple this capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts by 2030 is a testament to the global community’s dedication to a sustainable future.

While the implementation of these milestones may not be as swift as some advocates would prefer, they represent crucial steps forward in the complex, global effort to address climate change. These commitments, set against the backdrop of a conference hosted by a nation deeply embedded in the fossil fuel industry, illustrate a significant shift in the dialogue and action on climate change.

The UAE played an indispensable role as both a regional and global mediator during COP28. A pivotal moment was the final agreement, which seemed unattainable until the UAE’s diplomatic intervention.

In the end, the influence of key figures, such as Sultan Al-Jaber, as both President-designate of COP28 and the chief of ANDOC, who seemed intent on not letting the conference end without agreement, cannot be understated in this achievement.

This agreement, particularly the inclusion of language addressing fossil fuels – a topic met with resistance, notably from oil-producing countries and OPEC ministers – was a testament to the UAE’s unique position to bridge divides.

This outcome likely would not have been possible without the UAE’s hosting and its diplomatic finesse, suggesting the strategic importance of location in facilitating such landmark agreements.

When comparing COP28 to its predecessors, it’s clear that each conference has its unique challenges and triumphs. However, COP28 stands out for turning contentious debates into productive dialogues, and for not only bringing in oil-producing countries into the process but also putting them in the lead. 

With the next conference set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, another nation with deep ties to the oil industry, the precedent set by the UAE becomes increasingly relevant. Hosting climate conferences in countries heavily invested in fossil fuels can be seen not as a contradiction but as a strategic approach to engaging all critical stakeholders.

COP28, under the stewardship of the UAE, has demonstrated that effective climate dialogue requires the involvement of all parties, including those deeply rooted in traditional energy sectors.

By hosting the conference, the UAE has not only facilitated important agreements but also set a precedent for future conferences in similar nations. The path to comprehensive climate action is complex, but COP28 has shown that progress is only possible when discussions are inclusive and strategically positioned.

Arnon Bersson is a researcher in the fields of Middle East energy security and geopolitics with a focus on the Arab Gulf States. He is a contributor to the Israel and the Arab Gulf program at the Abba Eben Institute.

Dr Yossi Mann is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Middle East at Bar Ilan University and the Lauder School of Government at Reichman University. He has published many research papers on the oil market and the Arab Gulf. He is also the head of Israel and the Arab Gulf Program at the Abba Eban Institute.

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Thailand boosts climate ambitions post-COP28

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PUBLISHED : 21 Dec 2023 at 04:00

Thailand has promised to increase efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions to mitigate the impacts of climate change following the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) recently held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking yesterday at a COP28 debriefing event, Phirun Saiyasitpanich, the chief of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, said that Thailand would change its carbon emissions target from 30% to 40% under a second version of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), a climate action plan.

He said Thailand had aimed to reduce up to 30% of carbon emissions under the first NDC (2021-2030), but through a second NDC, it will seek to reduce carbon emissions by 40%.

“We need to take a serious study based on social, environmental and economic impacts,” he said, adding that the new NDC will be completed by next year.

He said Thailand will continue its vigorous efforts to meet the long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065.

Mr Phirun said that Thailand can do more if the country receives foreign financial support.

He further said that the country’s first-ever climate change bill will facilitate the country’s efforts to achieve its targets through carbon pricing to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

The bill is expected to be submitted for parliament’s reading in the first quarter of next year.

He said COP28 had approved a Global Stocktake (GST) mechanism to monitor and report the actions taken by global communities to fight climate change.

The GST will also monitor how participating countries participate in limiting the rise of the world’s temperatures.

Mr Phirun added that the COP28 established a Loss and Damage Fund with an initial US$792 million budget to help vulnerable countries.

Environment Minister Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan also told the debriefing event that Thailand has affirmed its efforts to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all economic sectors.

He said Thailand would do this by increasing its adaptation capacity and empowering its efforts to access financial mechanisms to achieve carbon neutrality targets, including promoting more public awareness on the issue.

Also at the event, Ernst Reichel, German ambassador to Thailand, said he appreciated Thailand’s efforts to deal with the climate change problems.

Mr Reichel said that Germany and Thailand are bilateral climate change partners, adding that his country will continue supporting Thailand’s transition to a green society.

COP28 was held from Nov 30 to Dec 12 and it is the world’s largest international climate conference so far.

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Climate and conflict a toxic geopolitical mix in Syria

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As the COP28 climate conference wrapped up in the United Arab Emirates last week, international observers were focused on the outcome of the talks, with good reason. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

But just off stage, regional analysts were absorbed in a related issue that will hinder efforts to implement any plan to save the planet. Call it the geopolitics of climate action, and Syria was exhibit A.

With Syrian President Bashar Al Assad absent from the proceedings, Prime Minister Hussein Arnous was tasked to lead the delegation in Dubai. Syrian officials underscored their primary focus was on securing funding for climate adaptation in the war-torn country, a concern other conflict-ridden states share.

While it’s imperative to address Syria’s environmental challenges, it’s crucial to consider them in the wider context. Channeling climate funds to a regime that has exacerbated old environmental woes while creating new ones will undermine efforts to hold those responsible to account. Worse, it creates an opportunity for climate funds to be misused.

The regime’s extensively documented corruption and manipulation of aid and development funding pose a significant risk to mitigation efforts. Any climate funding allocated to Syria must come with assurances that the money won’t be redirected.

For more than 12 agonizing years, the Syrian conflict has inflicted brutal violence, economic turmoil, and widespread suffering. Concurrently, recent years have brought a surge in extreme weather events in Syria – scorching temperatures, devastating wildfires, relentless droughts, and ceaseless sandstorms.

These escalating calamities, both in frequency and ferocity, have heightened Syria’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Ranked 146 out of 181 countries on the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative index, Syria stands among the countries most severely affected by the climate crisis. This ranking underscores Syria’s acute vulnerability and limited resilience against the impacts of severe weather.

However, these dire circumstances must not eclipse the accountability of the Syrian regime in reaching this critical juncture. For decades, the regime’s policies directly aggravated a range of environmental challenges, including water scarcity, soil degradation, and air pollution.

The situation was further deteriorated following the peaceful uprising in 2011. A November 2023 report by former International Criminal Court judge Howard Morrison echoed these concerns, placing blame on the Assad regime for Syria’s extensive environmental devastation.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has committed various environmental crimes while waging war. Photo: SANA

For instance, relentless bombing campaigns and the regime’s repeated use of chemical weapons have added to the ecological destruction. Today, cities remain buried under hazardous rubble that poses significant environmental and health risks.

Morrison’s report, which was released in the run-up to COP28, also underscores Assad’s targeting of the oil industry. Intentional strikes have created large oil fires and spills that ravaged cultivated land and triggered health crises, notably increased respiratory issues among affected populations.

The report also delineates how Assad’s war tactics have decimated clean drinking water supplies and polluted groundwater sources. The ravages of war have also rapidly diminished Syria’s forests, increasing flooding risks and contributing to a steep decline in biodiversity.

Extending climate financing to the Syrian regime would not only undermine efforts to hold Assad accountable but also risk yielding minimal impact.

Syria is not alone in this climate contradiction. Other countries in dire need of climate adaptation and mitigation funding – Sudan, for instance – are also embroiled in war. Indeed, climate-related challenges, like water shortages and soil degradation, are often contributing factors to conflict.

Still, Syria’s funding track record is particularly egregious. The regime has been accused of selectively directing aid to loyalist areas, manipulating exchange rates for aid transfers, and compromising procurement procedures.

Furthermore, the regime’s constraints on the operational freedom of international agencies impede independent needs assessment and monitoring, leaving these bodies heavily reliant on data provided by regime-affiliated entities. 

Even if funders could look beyond past transgressions, structural corruption within Syrian state institutions will complicate climate financing. Entrenched corruption not only undermines the effectiveness of climate financing but also detracts from essential reforms needed to address Syria’s governance challenges.

The heightened focus on conflict and climate at this year’s COP summit, while sorely needed, will only yield results if the entities receiving support are properly vetted. Climate-related financing, like any funding directed to regime-held areas, must include assurances that mitigate corruption risks and ensure climate action without exacerbating Syria’s existing problems.

Given the technical and political challenges of coordinating with the Syrian regime, climate funding to Syria should target societal and civil society structures at the local level. These entities possess the skills and genuine interest in improving conditions in their areas.

Engaging directly with the Syrian regime, on the other hand, should be avoided whenever possible. A blank check from the international community would enable Assad to exploit yet another critical cause to secure his own political survival. 

We’ve already seen what Assad can do with the slightest opening of support. But this time, the repercussions of engagement have planetary consequences.

Dr Haid Haid is a Syrian columnist and a consulting associate fellow of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa program. X: @HaidHaid22

Republished with the kind permission of Syndication Bureau, which holds copyright.

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Japan, ASEAN to boost security ties with eye on China

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With Malaysia, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that he had agreed with counterpart Anwar Ibrahim to deepen strategic ties and provide 400 million yen (US$2.8 million) for “warning and surveillance” equipment. Kishida said that with the world “at a historical turning point, Japan places great importance onContinue Reading

Singapore will not claim from climate loss and damage fund despite facing rising sea levels: Grace Fu

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Last month, it announced a plan to reclaim around 800ha of land – the size of over 1,000 football fields – on its east coast, as part of coastal protection measures.

As to whether Singapore will instead contribute to the loss and damage fund, Ms Fu said the country sees its role more as one that galvanises financing for nations at risk.

“There are countries that have sounded out their willingness to contribute to the fund. We very much welcome that, from the perspective of helping our fellow island states,” she said.

“But there are countries also that have (other) resources, such as in Singapore, I think our resources will be really in activating finance, activating technology, and bringing solutions to cities. So each one of us, if we are able to find our own way to contribute to climate action, I think that’s to be welcomed.”

PHASE DOWN OR PHASE OUT?

Ms Fu also addressed a major flashpoint in the COP28 climate talks, where the choice of language over whether to “phase down” or “phase out” fossil fuels remains under furious debate.

“We will have to work through the languages to find possible landing zones. We are trying to now find languages that can actually meet the needs of most parties, and this is a very democratic process,” she said.

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Commentary: Why China’s clean energy boom matters for global climate action

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HOW DID CHINA BOOST CLEAN ENERGY SO FAST?

China’s huge domestic market and large-scale deployment of wind and solar contribute greatly to plummeting renewable costs. Steadily lowering costs means green energy becomes viable for developing countries.

In 2012, a large team from China Power Investment Corporation arrived in the high desert in Qinghai province and began building 15.7GW worth of solar across 345 sq km.

It was here that China first figured out how to make intermittent power reliable. Excess power was sent to a hydropower station 40km away and used to pump water uphill. At night, the water would flow back down through the turbines. Technologies developed here are now being used in other large-scale hybrid projects, such as hydro-solar, wind-solar and wind-solar-hydro projects.

In 2022, the government announced plans to install 500GW worth of solar, onshore and offshore wind projects in the Gobi Desert across Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Gansu provinces.

These are intended to not only supercharge China’s clean energy supply, but to tackle desert expansion. Solar panels stabilise the movement of sand and absorb sunlight, reducing evaporation of scarce water and giving plants a better chance at survival. This knowledge, too, came from the Qinghai solar farms, where plants began growing in the shade.

China’s focus on technology has given it combined solar and salt farms, floating solar power plants and energy storage ranging from batteries to compressed air to kinetic flywheels and hydrogen.

While the US and China cooperate at COP28, competition is not far away. China already dominates many clean energy technologies, but the US is trying to catch up through the massive green spend in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.

According to the International Energy Agency, half of all emissions cuts needed to achieve net-zero by 2050 will come from technologies currently at demonstration or prototype phase. These include cheap green hydrogen, next generation nuclear, next generation solar and wind, and functioning carbon capture and storage for remaining fossil fuel use.

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China’s clean energy boom offers climate action hope

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With an energy-hungry economy, an historic reliance on coal and vast manufacturing enterprises, China is the world’s single largest emitter, accounting for 27% of the world’s carbon dioxide and a third of all greenhouse gas emissions.

But China is also the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels and wind turbines. Domestically, it is installing green power at a rate the world has never seen.

This year alone, China built enough solar, wind, hydro and nuclear capacity to cover the entire electricity consumption of France. Next year, we may see something even more remarkable – the population giant’s first-ever drop in emissions from the power sector.

The COP28 climate talks began well, buoyed by November’s Sunnyland Statement between China and the United States, the second largest emitter. At previous climate talks, US-China cooperation has been lacking. But this time, they’re largely on the same page.

The statement outlined joint support for global tripling of renewable energy by 2030, tackling methane and plastic pollution, and a transition away from fossil fuels.

coal barge in middle of shanghai
Coal has fuelled China’s rapid rise. Photo: Shutterstock via The Conversation

The urgency of now

China has been looking for better coordination with the US on climate since US President Joe Biden took office. Climate is an area where these competing major powers can cooperate.

The COP28 talks in Dubai – meant to finish tomorrow (December 12) – offer a window for joint action. Next year, the US could elect a different president with very different views on climate. China’s well-regarded veteran special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, is about to retire.

In these talks, China – the world’s top oil importer – is looking for a compromise solution on the tense debate over fossil fuels. The world’s cartel of oil-producing countries, OPEC, has called for focusing on emissions reduction rather than fossil-fuel phase out in the declaration. Xie and his team are trying to find a middle ground to ensure a final deal.

China has long been criticized for its continuing coal-fired power plant expansion. It has the world’s largest coal power fleet, and approved another 106 gigawatts worth of new coal plants just last year – the equivalent of two a week. But the five major state-owned power companies are already burdened by heavy financial losses.

Why build dirty and clean? It’s a longstanding national policy: build sufficient baseload supply first while expanding renewable capacities. But at COP28, Xie said something new:

[China will] strive to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy in a gradual manner.

A country of engineers

In developed countries, much clean energy work is driven by energy economists, who use incentives to change behavior.

China is a country of engineers, who see these challenges as technical rather than economic.

In 2007, China released a national action plan on climate, calling for technological solutions to the climate problem. Private and state-owned companies responded strongly.

Fifteen years later, China is in the lead in every low-carbon category. Its total installed renewable capacity is staggering, accounting for a third of the world’s total, and it is leading in electric vehicle production and sales.

In the first three quarters of 2023, over 53% of China’s electricity came from low-carbon sources: hydro, wind, solar, bioenergy and nuclear.

ship building wind turbines in the sea
China has approached its record-breaking renewable roll-out methodically. Photo: Shutterstock via The Conversation

How did China boost clean energy so fast?

China’s huge domestic market and large-scale deployment of wind and solar contribute greatly to plummeting renewable costs. Steadily lowering costs means green energy becomes viable for developing countries.

In 2012, a large team from China Power Investment Corporation arrived in the high desert in Qinghai province and began building 15.7 GW worth of solar across 345 square kilometres.

It was here that China first figured out how to make intermittent power reliable. Excess power was sent to a hydropower station 40 kilometers away and used to pump water uphill. At night, the water would flow back down through the turbines.

Technologies developed here are now being used in other large-scale hybrid projects, such as hydro-solar, wind-solar and wind-solar-hydro projects.

china desert solar farm
Huge solar farms carpet the desert in Qinghai – and new work opens the door to revegetating in the shade of the panels. Photo: Shutterstock via The Conversation

In 2022, the government announced plans to install 500 GW worth of solar, onshore and offshore wind projects in the Gobi Desert across Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu provinces.

These are intended to not only supercharge China’s clean energy supply, but to tackle desert expansion. Solar panels stabilize the movement of sand and absorb sunlight, reducing the evaporation of scarce water and giving plants a better chance at survival. This knowledge, too, came from the Qinghai solar farms, where plants began growing in the shade.

map of china showing gobi and Taklamakan deserts
Plenty of room for solar: China’s two major deserts, the Gobi and Taklamakan, are home to more and more solar. TheDrive/Wikimedia, CC BY-ND

China’s focus on technology has given it combined solar and salt farms, floating solar power plants and energy storage ranging from batteries to compressed air to kinetic flywheels and hydrogen.

While the US and China cooperate at COP28, competition is not far away. China already dominates many clean energy technologies, but the US is trying to catch up through the massive green spend in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.

According to the International Energy Agency, half of all emissions cuts needed to achieve net zero by 2050 will come from technologies currently at the demonstration or prototype phase. These include cheap green hydrogen, next-generation nuclear, next-generation solar and wind, and functioning carbon capture and storage for remaining fossil fuel use.

What has China achieved at COP28?

China is backing global calls to triple renewable capacity by 2030 and has agreed to tackle methane emissions, a particularly potent greenhouse gas.

China is far behind in energy efficiency – it uses about 50% more per unit of GDP than in the US, and double that of Japan. It has not invested in energy efficiency as it has in other low-carbon areas.

This could change. US and China agreed in November to restart joint energy efficiency work on industry, buildings, transportation, and equipment, seen as harder areas to cut emissions.

At COP28, we will likely see states agree to double the rate of energy efficiency improvement from 2% to 4% a year by 2030. It remains to be seen whether China will join them.

Xu Yi-chong is Professor of Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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