China wants to become climate neutral by 2060

China wants to become climate neutral by 2060

 

China, the most populous country in the world and also the largest CO2 polluter, is setting itself a new goal to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement. China wants to be climate neutral before 2060.

Only recently, the EU abandoned its new climate goal of increasing the reduction of CO2 emissions from 40 to at least 55 percent by 2030. “To become the first climate-neutral continent is our mission,” said von der Leyen. The year 2050 has so far been set as the target for this mission.

China’s head of state Xi Jinping then also surprisingly tightened his climate targets in his speech to the United Nations. There had to be a “green revolution” and one had to “move faster” to achieve climate-related successes. Emissions are expected to peak before 2030 and his country wants to be climate neutral before 2060. This is the first time the government has set a date for climate neutrality, which is why some environmental activists are already talking of a sensation in international climate diplomacy. If China can turn this promise into reality, it could slow down global warming by about 0.2 to 0.3 degrees Celsius by 2100. Ursula von der Leyen commented on China’s announcement of climate neutrality by 2060: “This is an important step in our global fight against climate change under the Paris Convention. We will work together with China on this goal. But there is still much to be done.”

According to the World Bank, China is home to 16 of the world’s 20 cities with the worst air quality. In addition, the WHO standards for air quality are not being met in around 200 major cities in the People’s Republic. This is due to obsolete industrial plants and coal-fired power stations. In the event of heavy smog, companies have to cut back on production or even stop altogether, explains Li Junfeng from the Center for Climate Change Issues.

KMA Umwelttechnik has had a subsidiary in Shanghai since 2012 and supports the local companies to achieve the ambitious goals of the government. The exhaust air filter systems not only clean the exhaust air – the energy-saving filter technology saves large amounts of energy and thus CO2 compared to conventional fabric filters.

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