China's Carbon Trading Scheme is a Priority

摘要

The good news is that the United States, Europe, and Japan have turned the corner on carbon emissions. However, China, the leading global carbon emitter, has fallen behind in its low-carbon image. Its steadily increasing coal consumption made China account for one-quarter of all global CO_2 emissions. China's coal and oil consumption are projected to increase by 23% and 46% respectively by 2020. However, carbon capture and storage (CCS)-the process by which emissions from the use of coal are isolated-is still lacking in market-operating funds and political support with climate ambitions to accelerate commercial deployment. To decrease its reliance on coal, China has set ambitious targets for its ongoing nuclear and shale-gas plans, posing significant safety concerns and environmental and economic challenges.