9 December 2014: China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC) organized an event at the Lima Climate Change Conference that explored the interactions between bilateral and international processes, with a focus on the potential to reach a climate agreement in Paris in 2015. Think tanks from around the world offered their perspectives at the event, ‘International Cooperation: Towards the 2015 Agreement: A Perspective from International Think Tanks.’

Zou Ji, NCSC, noted that delegations interpret the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) differently, complicating decisions on appropriate policies and measures. He invited panelists to present their perspectives on: the 2015 agreement; US-China cooperation and its potential contribution to reaching a multilateral agreement; and achieving the US and Chinese post-2015 targets.

Observing that cooperation results from commonalities, Robert Stavins, Harvard University, listed common characteristics that enabled the recent China-US bilateral collaboration and announcement: similar annual emissions; the presence of huge coal and gas reserves and the resulting health issues; the presences of sub-national cap-and-trade policies; and the shared context of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP).

Jennifer Morgan, World Resources Institute (WRI), said the US-China agreement: sends a clear signal that the low-carbon economy is inevitable; conveys the urgency of linking science and policy; and demonstrates fairness and equity in climate actions.

Xie Zhenhua, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and head of the Chinese delegation to the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, said China will adhere to its common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) approach. Xie urged embedding the principle in a post-2015 agreement.

Nicholas Stern, Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP), commended China for its rapid growth and for announcing its intention to find a sustainable path to less congested cities and clean air. Martin Khor, South Centre, described China’s astonishing growth as the “greatest experiment in social development,” noting China may soon embark on a path of sustainable development that could become the new economic model.

Teresa Ribera, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), emphasized that legal and implementation aspects of the 2015 agreement must be addressed and encouraged parties to consider implications beyond the environment and climate, such as health and social aspects. [IISD RS ENBOTS Coverage] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference] [NCSC Website]