China's Climate Change Policies after the Paris Agreement: a Two-Level Pressure Analysis
Author
Jørgensen, Simon Lund
Term
4. term
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-05-15
Pages
59
Abstract
This thesis examines why China has remained engaged in global climate governance after the Paris Agreement—despite the U.S. withdrawal—and how domestic and international pressures shape its policy choices. Using neoliberal institutionalism to frame cooperation among state and non‑state actors and a Two‑Level Pressure Analysis to connect internal and external dynamics, it reviews China’s post‑Paris measures, including elements of the 13th Five‑Year Plan, the national emissions trading scheme, and other climate‑related policies. The analysis finds that incentives to generate wealth by reforming energy procurement and reducing reliance on coal, along with ambitions to gain international status by co‑leading climate action with the EU and providing a global public good, underpin China’s continued participation. The Belt and Road Initiative is highlighted for its potential to diffuse climate‑relevant infrastructure across partner countries while bolstering China’s political and economic clout. The EU–China relationship exhibits asymmetric interdependence: Europe seeks assurances of cooperation and can leverage desired low‑carbon technologies to encourage China’s compliance. Overall, wealth, status, and asymmetric interdependence emerge as key factors explaining China’s choice to stay in the Paris regime, demonstrating how domestic and foreign policy logics intertwine when China is pressured to address an issue not always framed as a core national interest.
Specialet undersøger, hvorfor Kina efter Parisaftalen – og på trods af USA’s udmeldelse – fortsat er engageret i global klimapolitik, og hvordan både indenlandske og internationale pres påvirker landets beslutninger. Med neoliberalinstitutionalisme som teoretisk ramme for samarbejde mellem statslige og ikke‑statslige aktører og en Two‑Level Pressure‑analyse til at koble interne og eksterne dynamikker, gennemgås Kinas tiltag efter Paris, herunder elementer fra den 13. femårsplan, det nationale kvotehandelssystem og andre relaterede politikker. Analysen peger på, at ønsket om at skabe velstand gennem ændret energiforsyning og udfasning af kul samt ambitionen om at opnå international status via delt lederskab med EU og leveringen af et globalt offentligt gode har styrket Kinas fastholdelse af Parisaftalen. Belt and Road‑initiativet fremhæves for sit potentiale til at udbrede klimarelevant infrastruktur i deltagende lande og samtidig øge Kinas politiske og økonomiske gennemslagskraft. Forholdet mellem EU og Kina rummer træk af asymmetrisk indbyrdes afhængighed: EU søger forsikringer om samarbejde og kan bruge efterspurgte lavemissionsteknologier som løftestang for Kinas efterlevelse. Samlet tyder fundene på, at velstand, status og asymmetrisk indbyrdes afhængighed er centrale forklaringsfaktorer for Kinas valg om at blive i Paris‑regimet, og at indenrigs‑ og udenrigspolitiske hensyn flettes tæt sammen, når landet presses til at håndtere et problem, der ikke altid opfattes som en kerneinteresse.
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