I. Background, Energy, and Climate Impacts of China

            China is one of the largest and geographically diverse nations in the world. From the inhospitality of the Gobi Desert, the fertile but fragile Loess Plateau, and the lush Yangzi valley region, China has numerous different environmental regions with their own needs and threats. Among the most important of these are the Loess Plateau and Northern plain, the northern forests, central bamboo forests, permafrost areas and Southeast river system. China has an area of 9.6 million square km and has large coal, iron, natural gas and lesser metal reserves.

            China is home to over 1.33 billion people as of July 2008, with a growth rate of 0.629%, and an aging population due to its 1 child laws. China is best defined as a Social free market economy with strict social regulations and loosely regulated private, industrial sectors. Male literacy rates are 95% compared to 86.5% for women. Per capita GDP is approximately $5300, with 8% living on less than $90 a year, and 35.5 million more living on less than $125 a year. China's economic growth rate was estimated at 11% last year, and despite widescale unemployment in rural communities, urban unemployment rates are only about 4%. Its GDP (PPP) as of 2007 was just under $7 trillion.

            China has a growing demand for electricity driven by its growing economy. 70% of China’s energy is produced by coal power. Although less than 3% of China’s energy comes from nuclear plants, its growing demand for energy means that China will continue to develop and expand in this sector. The only real emissions standards in China is the ratification of the National Action Plan on Climate Change which was enacted June of 2007. Although it does not call upon a numerical goal for reducing greenhouse gases, it provides steps for renewable energy usage and more efficient use of existing energy.

            China is one of the world's largest energy importers, importing 976 million cubic meters of natural gas and 3.19 million bbl/day of crude oil to supplement internal coal and gas mining operations. Its primary export is through consumer manufacturing, and has an expanding mechanical and chemical sector. Industry comprises 48% of annual GDP with the Service sector accounting for 40% and tourism approximately 5%.

            Although China signed Kyoto in 1998, it considers itself largely exempt from Kyoto's provisions. Nevertheless, China is developing renewable energy programs including wind energy farms with the assistance of the UNEP and a large hydroelectric program, highlighted by the Three Gorges Dam project, which has garnered a lot of criticism.

            China’s climate is being affected by global climate change in various ways. Most pressing of the changes is glacier melting along the Tibetan plateau which is causing sandstorms, drought, and impacting the native Tibetan’s cultural way of life. Droughts in Central China are affecting croplands and are increasing the cost of vegetables in those regions. With local lakes and rivers drying due to droughts, local residents are suffering a lack of drinking water and the government must ration water in those regions. Finally, flooding due to extreme rain patterns and glacial melting are also affecting many of the Chinese living in the western and southern parts of China.

II. China's Positions and Arguments

I.                    Problems With Kyoto

II.                 China has signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol, however, it sees many problems with Kyoto that make it unlikely that China will comply with the protocol in the future. The first problem China sees with Kyoto is using greenhouse gases as the target standard for reducing climate change. At current, there are many countries that have ratified Kyoto that are not complying with their target emission levels. Furthermore, even if all these countries did hit their targets, developing countries such as China and India who have no regulations will offset any progress that the other countries make. The annex system is also something that China does not agree with. If and when China does become an Annex 1 country, it will not agree to comply with Kyoto anymore because it does not agree with any type of emissions standards for their country. Carbon trading is another thing China believes will promulgate the problem of global climate change because it gives richer countries a way to pollute more while leaving smaller countries to deal with the direct effects of global climate change. Finally, it is in our best interest to start a renewable energy plan sooner than later because if we wait, the cost of shifting will be too burdensome and expensive. At the current, technology transfer is easily accomplished and the cost of technology trade is decreasing so it only makes sense to implement a plan that uses renewable energy sources at its core.

III.               China’s official 30 year goals of the 2008 Post Kyoto Convention

A)    Primary goals:

a.       The conversion of all nation’s individual energy sources to atleast 25% up to 50% renewable by 2030

                                                               i.      Including wind farms, hydroelectric, portable solar panels, etc.

b.      The enforcement of efficient smokestacks and carbon scrubbing technology on all new factories and the conversion of 50% of inefficient factories to cleaner technology by 2030

c.       The enforcement of new fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles by 2030 and the phasing out of leaded oils worldwide

d.      The complete elimination of CFC use in developing countries and the phasing out of other non-combustion based greenhouse gases through 2030

B)     Secondary Goals

a.       The development of public transportation infrastructures in all cities of over 750k people based on efficient fuels

b.      Methane recycling throughout all major animal farms

c.       Development of natural forest regions and other carbon sequestration technology

IV.              Mechanisms of Executing the planned goals

a.       Global Energy Conversion Organization (GECO)

                                                               i.      GECO FUND

1.      Review Application for project funding through annual dues

2.      Provide technical oversight

3.      Promote international energy conversion workforce

                                                             ii.      International Conferences

1.      Facilitate technological exchange

2.      Maintain a focus on long term goals

3.      Promote transparency

                                                            iii.      Annual Publications

1.      Provide a body of literature on the subject

2.      Assess developing trends

3.      Facilitate continued technology and climate change research

b.      Develop a climate for technological change

                                                               i.      Promoting national economic restructuring and private sector input

V.                 Mechanisms of Enforcement

a.       GECO Enforcement Fund

                                                               i.      Fines and penalties for nations in poor standing

                                                             ii.      Assists in combating climate change related problems

                                                            iii.      Fines to be taken from international banks to ensure compliance

b.      Permission of protective economic practices against nations in poor standing

                                                               i.      Nations in poor standing cannot sue against reasonable protective measures as voted on by the GECO authority