A Look at the Benign and Malignant Competitions over the Climate Policies Between the West and the East: The Case Between Germany and China
International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)
No.2, 2013
A Look at the Benign and Malignant Competitions over the Climate Policies Between the West and the East: The Case Between Germany and China
(Abstract)
Claudia Wich-Reif
The “common and differentiated responsibilities” principle set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change should not be understood as that the industrial nations should invest the largest resources in reduction of carbon-dioxide emission since they must carry the historical responsibilities for climate change. Rather, it should read in a positive way: Every contracting party, no matter how much it should undertake in the perspective of history and how much it may think other parties should undertake, should do its best. In the past few years, China’s active actions give us hope. In the mid-term, however, her rapid growth would result in an increase of emission. By 2030, China will reach the same levels as Europe. Only by 2050 could it realize in the absolute decrease of emission. There are urgent needs for China and Germany to cooperate on the problems of energy and environment.