The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the twelfth of which is “Responsible consumption and production,” namely: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Under this major goal, there are 11 targets, the 12.c of which is “Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.”

●Current Situation

About the World

UNDP calls for gradual reform of fossil fuel subsidies, taking into account equity

423 billion US dollars is the total amount of fossil fuel subsidies distributed to consumers every year, including oil, fossil fuel power generation, natural gas and coal. According to a research report released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this subsidy is equivalent to four times of the money to help poor countries solve the climate crisis, and three times of the money needed to eliminate extreme poverty in the world every year, which is also enough to allow everyone in the world to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the latest data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), if indirect costs such as environmental costs are included, the figure will rise to nearly $6 trillion.

The analysis of the UNDP emphasizes that these subsidies paid by taxpayers will eventually exacerbate inequality and hinder global action to address climate change. “The COVID-19 has revealed the urgent need for change in the way the global economy operates. The fact is that the huge cost of global subsidies for fossil fuels continues, while hundreds of millions of people are still living in poverty, and the climate crisis is also accelerating. Under such circumstances, we must ask ourselves: Are subsidies for fossil fuels a reasonable use of public funds?” said Achim Steiner, head of the UNDP.

“Solving fossil fuel subsidies is a problem full of political color, but facts show that reform is imperative. If properly implemented, it will also help to eradicate poverty, create employment opportunities, protect the earth and benefit many other aspects,” said George Gray Molina, chief economist of the Policy and Project Support Bureau of the UNDP and co-author of the above research report. “We hope that this research can promote reform dialogue and promote countries to achieve a fair green transition.”

Source: The Paper

About China

China has built the world’s largest carbon market and clean power generation system

On November 17, 2022, China’s president delivered a written speech at the APEC Business Leaders Summit held in Bangkok entitled “Adhering to the Original Intent of Promoting Development Together and Opening a New Chapter of Asia Pacific Cooperation”. He emphasized that we should adhere to green and low-carbon development, create green industries and green finance, accelerate the construction of the Asia Pacific green cooperation pattern, and let the economic development of the Asia Pacific region take the lead in the world. TheChinese path to modernization must take a new path of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. This is our responsibility to ourselves and to the world. In recent years, we have adhered to the concept that green water and green mountains are gold mountains and silver mountains, promoted the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, and worked hard to build a beautiful China with blue sky, green land and clear water. China has set the goal of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, which is our solemn commitment to the international community. In the past 10 years, China has been one of the countries with the fastest reduction in energy consumption intensity in the world, exceeding the target of reducing carbon emission intensity by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 5.8 billion tons. China has built the world’s largest carbon market and clean power generation system. It is hoped that all parties will strengthen cooperation, firmly follow the path of green and low-carbon transformation, and jointly build a community of human and natural life.

Sources: Xinhua News Agency

●Cases

About the World

EU’s 2035 agreement on prohibiting sale of fossil fuel vehicles

The European Parliament, the European Commission and EU member states have reached an agreement on revising the carbon dioxide emission reduction targets in the field of passenger cars and light passenger vehicles. They announced that from 2035, only cars or trucks with zero carbon emissions can be sold in the EU, and that they will launch a full life cycle carbon dioxide emission assessment scheme for the transport sector, gradually promoting the carbon emission reduction process in the road transport sector.

Source: China Energy News

California encourages home installed batteries to store solar energy, hoping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels

California regulators’ latest plan may change the residential solar market. The plan aims to encourage more households to install battery systems to help the power grid reduce its dependence on fossil fuels at night, especially in hot weather. This is the second step of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in its attempt to update the California Home Solar System Incentive Plan. Last December, it decided to increase the new cost of solar users and reduce the subsidy for installing roof panels. Power companies hope to do so, and solar companies warn that it will weaken the development of the industry. In California, 1.5 million households have installed solar panels, creating the largest household solar market in the country so far. California has set an ambitious goal of transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies such as solar and wind energy to power homes, businesses and cars.

Source: Shilun Net

About China

Solar power generation has helped China reduce 150 billion yuan of fossil fuel imports

A report jointly prepared by the global energy think tank Ember, the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research (CREA) and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) pointed out that, thanks to the large-scale deployment of solar energy, solar power generation will replace fossil fuel power generation in the first half of 2022, saving seven Asian countries at least $34 billion in losses. It is more obvious in China, where from January 2021 to June 2021, solar energy will meet 5 percent of the total power demand and avoid the import of fossil fuels of about 21 billion dollars (about 150 billion yuan).

Source: EESIA, Global Zero Carbon

Atmospheric environment quality in Shenzhen has been steadily improved

The Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Government have always attached great importance to the improvement of atmospheric environment quality, and have always insisted on precise planning, focusing on key points, and making continuous efforts to promote the significant improvement of atmospheric environment quality in the city. Since 2004, Shenzhen has started a comprehensive and systematic process of air pollution control. In accordance with the requirements of policy documents such as the “National 10Rules” for air pollution control, it has successively issued a series of control measure documents such as the “Blue Sky Action Plan”, “Shenzhen’s 40 Rules on the Air”, “Blue Sky Project”, “Air Improvement Plan” and “Shenzhen Blue Sustainable Action Plan” to promote the prevention and control of various pollution sources. A series of innovative achievements have been made in the prevention and control of air pollution in the city. Shenzhen is the only city in China that has banned the burning of highly polluting fuels and has eliminatedall bulk coal and ordinary industrial coal. It is the first city in China to restrict the use of yellow standard vehicles, promote water-based paint, implement ship pollution control, realize 100 percent pure electrification of buses and taxis, and delimit “green logistics areas” and “low emission areas for non-road mobile machinery” in the central urban area. “Shenzhen Blue” has become a beautiful name card of the city.

Source: meeb.sz.gov.cn

●Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.