China's national energy interest and incentives for cooperation in areas of energy - A case study of the bilateral Sino-Danish relation
Author
Ødegaard, Sissel Mai
Term
4. term
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-05-21
Pages
111
Abstract
Kinas hurtigt voksende energibehov og meget store afhængighed af kul har haft alvorlige konsekvenser. Kinesiske borgere betaler prisen for forurening, og landets CO2-udledninger bidrager væsentligt til den globale klimabelastning. Ved COP21 (FN’s klimakonference i 2015) signalerede Kinas regering, at den vil tackle forureningen, hvilket rejser spørgsmål om, hvad det betyder for det kinesiske samfund. Specialet undersøger derfor: Hvorfor er det bilaterale sino-danske samarbejde om vedvarende energi påvirket af nationale interesser? Danmark er en pioner inden for vedvarende energi, og relationen mellem de to lande anses for vigtig for at gøre Kinas energimiks mere bæredygtigt. Kinas 13. femårsplan og den energipolitiske dagsorden peger på et officielt fokus på mere bæredygtigt energiforbrug. For at forstå de nationale interesser i begge lande analyseres fire hovedspor: kulturelle, politiske, økonomiske og sikkerhedsmæssige hensyn. Resultatet viser, at samarbejdet i høj grad er formet af disse interesser. Kina og Danmark får begge udbytte, men med forskellige mål. For begge lande bruges samarbejdet om vedvarende energi til at fremme statens udvikling og langsigtede sikkerhed gennem udenrigspolitik og samarbejdsaftaler. Diskussionen inddrager eksperters perspektiver på Kinas energimæssige udvikling og undersøger, hvordan Danmark som småstat søger at varetage sine interesser i det internationale system. Konklusionen besvarer problemformuleringen og præciserer, hvilken betydning vedvarende energi har for det bilaterale sino-danske forhold.
China’s rapidly growing energy demand and heavy reliance on coal have had serious consequences. Citizens are bearing the costs of pollution, and the country’s CO2 emissions contribute significantly to the global climate burden. At COP21 (the 2015 UN climate conference), the Chinese government signaled an intention to address pollution, raising questions about what this would mean for Chinese society. This thesis asks: Why is the bilateral Sino-Danish cooperation on renewable energy shaped by national interests? Denmark is a pioneer in renewable energy, and the partnership is seen as important for making China’s energy mix more sustainable. China’s 13th Five-Year Plan and its energy agenda indicate an official push toward more sustainable energy consumption. To examine each country’s national interests, the analysis considers four dimensions: cultural, political, economic, and security considerations. The findings show that cooperation is strongly influenced by these interests. China and Denmark both benefit, but with different objectives. For both countries, renewable energy cooperation serves national interests by supporting state development and long-term security through foreign policy and cooperative agreements. The discussion includes expert perspectives on China’s energy development and considers how Denmark, as a small state, seeks to safeguard its interests in the international system. The conclusion answers the research question and clarifies the role renewable energy plays in the Sino-Danish relationship.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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