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China Sets New Net-Zero Carbon Target for 2060

China produces more greenhouse gases than any other country in the world. However, in contrast to US President, Donald Trump, who has denied the existence of climate change in favour of the coal industry, President Xi Jinping of China has now joined in the effort to salvage the planet from climate change. At the virtual UN General Assembly in September, he declared that China aims to reduce its total carbon emissions to zero by 2060.

Yet, with one of the fastest growing economies in the world, China’s new target is going to be difficult to achieve. As much of the world begins to explore sustainable alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, CO2 emissions in China have continued to soar in recent years, mostly due to the burning of coal as the main source of energy. According to a report by the BBC, China accounts for 28% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The report also states that the country’s emissions fell by 25% at the beginning of this year as a result of covid-19; however, since heavy industries have returned to work, emissions have begun to rise again.

However hard to achieve their goal, a shift toward carbon-neutrality is essential for public and environmental health, as well as a global green recovery from Covid-19.

Posted by Iona Chichester 9 October 2020

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