logo
Energy and climate cooperation still key for China-EU ties

Energy and climate cooperation still key for China-EU ties

Business Times5 days ago
MUCH attention has focused on the chill in ties between Brussels and Beijing in recent years. However, ahead of the EU-China summit in Beijing on Thursday, there are still potential areas of deep bilateral cooperation.
Perhaps the standout example is climate change which has been an issue helping to define bilateral ties in the 21st century. So much so, in fact, that the EU Emissions Trading System was very influential in China's design of its own carbon markets.
Earlier this month, the two powers held their latest high-level summit on the environment and climate. On the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties, both are hoping to further promote the effective implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
With US President Donald Trump seeking US withdrawal from the Paris treaty, the importance of EU-China climate cooperation has only grown. This is particularly true given that all nations face a mid-September deadline to submit new 2035 climate targets to the UN. These submissions precede the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP30 – in Brazil, which will set out country-specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in the next decade.
Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed a 2040 climate target of reducing net GHG emissions by 90 per cent, compared to 1990 levels. In response, Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang told European Commission Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera that Beijing will release a new national climate plan in autumn, potentially timed around September's UN deadlines.
In 2024, the world surpassed 1.5 deg C of annual warming for the first time and is on a trajectory for 2.6 deg C by the end of the century, even under current emission reduction plans. Meeting the Paris Agreement's 2 deg C target – let alone the 1.5 deg C one – demands far more ambitious cuts.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights
An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Yet, since the pandemic, there have been new complications in climate ties between Brussels and Beijing. For instance, China has criticised the EU for what it perceives as the protectionist slant of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a European initiative aimed at addressing carbon leakage by imposing a price on carbon emissions for imported goods. The EU has rejected this narrative with Ribera saying that Brussels does not intend 'to go down a race towards low incomes, lower labour rights or lower environmental standards'.
Correspondingly, the EU has urged Beijing to stop building new coal power plants. Increased approvals for such plants have added to worries that Beijing may backtrack on ambitions to peak GHG emissions at or before 2030, ahead of carbon neutrality by 2060.
Another source of friction is the alleged dumping of Chinese-made electric vehicles in Europe. Ribera has said that 'there is this assumption that counting on cheap equipment could be good to boost the potential of new developments and new decarbonisation pathways in the European market that could be beneficial. And there may be truth on one side, but as you also know, it may be difficult in terms of how it could impact on the capacity to ensure a level playing field'.
EU decision-makers such as Ribera appear to believe that encouragement, not condemnation, is the best way to secure climate cooperation from Beijing. The assumption is that, especially with Trump in office, Beijing needs to be at the table on climate issues rather than left off it. With China being the world's largest GHG emitter by far, any international climate action during this era would be much weakened without Beijing's involvement.
Beyond this, however, many EU officials have long believed that Chinese policymakers fundamentally share Europe's vision for a prosperous, energy-secure future in a stable climate and recognise the need for bilateral collaboration. Indeed, China, too, is vulnerable to the threats of global warming, including intense heat waves and severe flooding.
The heart of EU-Chinese cooperation on this agenda is the 2015 EU-China Joint Statement on Climate Change. Under this, both parties agreed to cooperate on developing a cost-effective low-carbon economy, including intensifying cooperation in domestic mitigation policies, carbon markets, low-carbon cities, greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation and maritime industries, and hydrofluorocarbons.
Even amid the complexities of the climate crisis, both Chinese and EU policymakers still see that accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future holds vast, complementary opportunities. They believe that with the right vision and commitment, this potential can be realised, deepening a collaboration that is poised to grow.
China's planned investment in the green economy could be a game-changer, a fact that the EU is increasingly recognising. For instance, China is already the world's biggest and fastest-growing producer of renewable energy.
This investment is buttressed by Beijing's policy commitments on the climate, clean air and energy agendas. Chinese President Xi Jinping has set a strategic direction for the economy, with determination to deepen the transition of the country's development model towards a greater emphasis on services and innovation.
Europe has clear strengths in clean technology that are valuable to China. As the latter continues its trajectory to potentially become the world's largest economy, there are substantial commercial opportunities for EU's leading science and technology firms.
Crucially, this collaboration is not one-sided. China is already the world's largest investor in renewable energy, and it is possible that technology and expertise can flow in both directions. This two-way exchange can accelerate the growth of low-carbon industries, and align Europe more closely to the world's future largest economy.
As a key architect of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, Europe must continue to lead the fight against climate change. This includes the growing need for the EU to accelerate its emissions cuts to meet its goals in coming years, such as the 2040 target of a 90 per cent reduction.
Ultimately, despite a wider chill in ties, the EU and China still have much to gain from a deep partnership on the clean-energy transition. Now is thus the moment to double down on cooperation, and collectively chart the course for the 21st-century clean-energy economy.
The writer is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

CK Hutchison says may invite ‘major strategic investor' from China to join mega ports deal
CK Hutchison says may invite ‘major strategic investor' from China to join mega ports deal

Straits Times

time26 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

CK Hutchison says may invite ‘major strategic investor' from China to join mega ports deal

Beijing has viewed the deal as a threat to its interests because it would transfer two ports along the strategically important Panama Canal to the BlackRock-backed group. HONG KONG – CK Hutchison Holdings said it may invite a 'major strategic investor' from China to join the buyer consortium in its plan to sell 43 ports, as investors regain confidence for the company's prospects of completing the troubled transaction. The unnamed investor would join as a significant member of the consortium, the company said in a stock exchange filing on July 28. 'Changes to the membership of the consortium and the structure of the transaction will be needed for the transaction to be capable of being approved by all relevant authorities,' CK Hutchison said, adding that it 'intends to allow such time as is required for such discussions.' Shares of the firm, which oscillated between gains and losses since the company first announced the deal on March 4, reached the highest this year on Friday (July 25) after Bloomberg News reported that state-owned China Cosco Shipping is set to join the buyer consortium that includes US asset manager BlackRock. Although a 145-day exclusivity window for talks between CK Hutchison and the original buyers' group lapsed on July 27, the company's confirmation that a Chinese investor will join is likely to boost expectations. Beijing has so far viewed the deal as a threat to its interests because it would transfer two ports along the strategically important Panama Canal to the BlackRock-backed group, which China sees as a proxy for American influence. US President Donald Trump hailing the transaction as a win for the United States did not help. 'Ongoing negotiations and the reported inclusion of Cosco Shipping in the consortium have likely eased concerns over Chinese regulatory hurdles, strengthening investor confidence in the deal's viability,' according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Denise Wong. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 World Three dead, several injured after train derails in Germany World US and EU clinch deal with broad 15% tariffs on EU goods to avert trade war Asia Displaced villagers at Thai-Cambodian border hope to go home as leaders set to meet for talks China separately warned the parties involved not to bypass antitrust reviews, so as to prevent them from rushing into a deal. As of last week, the buyers' group was considering China Cosco's demand for veto rights to secure Beijing's interests, Bloomberg News reported. CK Hutchison's shares, which shot up 37 per cent in the days following the sale announcement in March, saw political pressure wipe out all the gains in the space of a month. The stock started rallying again in June as investors flocked back after China Cosco came into play. The share price recovery shows investors are increasingly betting on Li Ka-shing, the 96-year-old founder of CK Hutchison, to seal the deal of his lifetime. If it goes through, the sale will net the group more than US$19 billion (S$24.3 billion) in cash. The renewed optimism is largely due to China Cosco's interest in playing a role in the buying consortium, alongside BlackRock and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte's Terminal Investment. Challenges remain even as Cosco enters the discussions, David Blennerhassett, an analyst at Quiddity Advisors, wrote on financial analysis platform SmartKarma. That could reverse the current rhetoric and upset Mr Trump, who has a handful of issues already on his plate, he said. CK Hutchison's share price could also be under pressure should talks on the sale drag on, he added. Investors will be watching out for more answers to questions surrounding the deal, including what role the Chinese side will play in the consortium, said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis. The controversial deal has also weighed on Mr Li and his family's other businesses. Younger son Richard's talks to expand his insurance business into mainland China have stalled after the ports deal upset Beijing, Bloomberg reported earlier in July. That followed another Bloomberg report in March that China told its state-owned firms to hold off on any new collaboration with businesses linked to the Li family. The original structure of the buyer consortium was designed to give the Aponte family-controlled Terminal Investment ownership of all the ports except the two in Panama, whose control will go to BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners unit. BLOOMBERG

Rubio says US officials in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks
Rubio says US officials in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks

CNA

time26 minutes ago

  • CNA

Rubio says US officials in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks

WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials are in Malaysia to assist peace efforts, with Cambodia and Thailand scheduled to begin talks on Monday (Jul 28) in hopes of a ceasefire. President Donald Trump and Rubio were engaged with their counterparts for each country and were monitoring the situation very closely, Rubio said in a statement released by the State Department late on Sunday in the US. "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible," he said. "State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts." The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were scheduled to attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on Monday, the Thai government said, as both sides accused each other of launching fresh artillery strikes across contested areas. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Hostilities resumed on Thursday and, within just four days, escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade. The death toll has risen above 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas. Rubio, in separate phone calls on Sunday with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, urged both countries to "de-escalate tensions immediately" and agree to a ceasefire with each other, a US State Department spokesperson said in a statement. Rubio also reiterated US President Trump's desire for peace and the importance of an immediate ceasefire. "The United States is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia."

Furore in S. Korea after college art competition asks entrants to ‘depict pilot's face before crash'
Furore in S. Korea after college art competition asks entrants to ‘depict pilot's face before crash'

Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • Straits Times

Furore in S. Korea after college art competition asks entrants to ‘depict pilot's face before crash'

Find out what's new on ST website and app. The University of Suwon held the competition on July 19 to 20, with participating students asked to choose one of two topics for their art piece. SEOUL - A South Korean university on July 26 was embroiled in controversy over its recent art competition for high school students, in which one of the topics asked candidates to 'depict the face of a pilot just before a crash'. The University of Suwon held the competition on July 19 to 20, with participating students asked to choose one of two topics for their art piece. This included the crashing pilot, which was chosen by 39 participants. The subject sparked uproar, as it reminded many of the public of the Dec 29 crash of a Jeju Air flight that killed 179 of the 181 people onboard. The topic even specified that the pilot is 'a man in his 40s'. The pilot in the Muan disaster was aged 45 when he and all but two people onboard died in the crash. 'We believe that there was a management issue when selecting the topic for the competition. We sincerely apologise for touching off this debate,' the university officials told media. The bereaved families of the crash victims and a group of the aircraft pilots reacted angrily to the news. In an official statement July 26, the victims' family group said the art competition 'defamed' the pilot and the victims. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole World Three dead, several injured after train derails in Germany Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 World US and EU clinch deal with broad 15% tariffs on EU goods to avert trade war Asia Displaced villagers at Thai-Cambodian border hope to go home as leaders set to meet for talks It urged an official apology and thorough investigation by the university on who is responsible. In a separate statement issued on July 26, the Korean Pilot Unions Alliance also urged an apology to the bereaved families and said it was mulling legal action against the university. The crash is currently under investigation in a government-led probe, with the initial findings suggesting that pilot may have mistakenly switched off the wrong engine after a bird flew into one of the jets. Bereaved families and the local pilots' group accused the government of unfairly blaming the pilot when the investigation was not even final yet. The conclusion of the ongoing investigation is expected in June 2026. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store