China’s Climate Change Commitment and What India Can Learn

China promised to be carbon net-zero by 2060 and advanced the deadline for reaching emissions peak.

China made an unexpected announcement when the UN climate change conference is not happening due to the pandemic.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, China made two promises that are to be carbon net-zero by 2060 and advanced the deadline for reaching emissions peak.
According to Climate Action Tracker, the Chinese goals would lower global warming projections for 2100 by about 0.2 degrees Celsius to 0.3 degrees Celsius.

China announced to become carbon net-zero by 2060.
Net-zero is a country’s emissions compensated by absorptions and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
More carbon sinks can increase absorption such as forests, where the removal involves technologies such as carbon capture and storage.
The second promise, China announced an important change in China’s already committed target for reaching the emissions peak.
It advanced the deadline from “by 2030” to “before 2030”.
China will not allow its greenhouse gas emissions to grow beyond that point.

To achieve “climate neutrality” by 2050, there has been a concerted campaign.
This is referred to as the state of net-zero emissions that would require countries significantly reducing their emissions.
This can be achieved by increasing land and forest sinks that would absorb the emissions.
If sinks are not available, countries can use technologies that can remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases physically from the atmosphere.
The climate change campaign groups say global neutrality by 2050 is the way to achieve the Paris Agreement target to keeping global temperatures from rising beyond 2 degrees Celsius to pre-industrial times.
The world is headed for a 3 degrees to 4 degree Celsius rise in temperature by 2100.

China accounts for 30% of global emissions and is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
It is more than the combined emissions in the United States, the European Union and India which is the next three biggest emitters.
China to commit itself to a net-zero target since countries have pledged themselves to such long-term commitments.
The European Union is the only big emitter to have committed itself to a net-zero emission status by 2050.
So far, more than 70 countries have made similar commitments.
China, the United Nations, the European Union and India whose climate actions are crucial for achieving the Paris Agreement as they account for more than half of the global emissions.
This is followed by countries such as Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Japan and Australia.
South Africa has declared to become carbon neutral by 2050.

India has resisted pressure to make a long-term commitment.
India has been arguing that the climate change actions it has been taking are in terms of achieving the Paris Agreement.
India and China have historically played together at the climate change negotiations.
The Chinese announcement may increase pressure on India to follow and agree to long term commitment even if it is not 2050 net-zero goal.