What is it about?
The low carbon energy policies, traditionally regarded as a primary result of climate mitigation, are likely driven more by the efforts on air quality attainment in China. To achieve air quality attainment in China could lead to more reduction in CO2 emissions than its Commitment of Paris Agreement. In addition, stronger low-carbon policies will bring significant benefits to public health via improvements in air quality.
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Why is it important?
Our findings show that the additional low-carbon energy polices required for China’s air quality targets would lay an important foundation for its deep decarbonization aligned with the 2 °C global temperature target, which provides a valuable reference for China and other developing countries to address their duel challenges of climate change and air pollution.
Perspectives
I hope this article can make people realize that the low carbon options are the only but cost-effective pathway to achieve clean air and mitigate CO2 emissions for China and other developing countries using coal as major energy supply, even within 10~15 years. I hope that you find this article thought-provoking.
Shuxiao Wang
Tsinghua University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The quest for improved air quality may push China to continue its CO
2
reduction beyond the Paris Commitment, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2013297117.
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