China’s Environment Policy: A Two Level Game

November 28, 2011 by Tristan McInnis

Once fertile, these fields outside Gurao in Shantou, have now been abandoned. In Gurao, where the economy is centered around textile production, Greenpeace has found high levels of industrial pollution and has documented the effects on the community. Lu Guang/Greenpeace

As the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Conference begins in Durban, South Africa, there will be few holding their breath that a major breakthrough decision will occur.  For its part, China has specifically stated that it is against any binding commitments on carbon levels. Moreover, in 1991 the Beijing declaration set forth the arguments in writing that the “developed countries bear responsibility for the degradation of the global environment…[and] have over-exploited the world’s natural resources…”

China’s position on Climate Change is that yes, it is an issue. But they are unwilling to enter into any internationally binding agreements that limit its ability to make sovereign decisions.

(more…)