The Contribution of Domestic Economic Processes to China's Commitment to the Paris Agreement
Author
Degn, Daniel Kloppenborg
Term
4. term
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-01-01
Pages
69
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvorfor og hvordan Kinas indenlandske økonomiske processer bidrager til landets tilsagn til Parisaftalen. Udgangspunktet er, at Kinas økonomiske strategi er præget af en grøn vækst-logik, hvor hensynet til miljømæssig bæredygtighed kobles til fortsat økonomisk udvikling og social stabilitet. Klimaforandringer forstås som et systemisk pres, der både rummer trusler (miljø-, sociale og økonomiske risici med potentielle konsekvenser for Kommunistpartiets legitimitet) og muligheder (en global omstilling mod en grøn økonomi). Teoretisk kombinerer afhandlingen neoklassisk realisme med mainstream økonomisk teori og arbejder med propositionsdrevne analyser, der forbinder systemiske stimuli og statslige opfattelser med grønne investeringer og målbare resultater i sektorer som vedvarende energi (bl.a. kapacitet, prisudvikling, patenter og eksport). Analysen peger på, at store investeringer og øgede FoU-udgifter i vedvarende energi både understøtter klimadæmpning og fremmer innovation og eksport, hvilket gør Kinas nationale interesser forenelige med Parisaftalens mekanisme for nationalt fastsatte bidrag. Kinas engagement forventes at fortsætte, men forbliver tæt bundet til, at grønne investeringer leverer resultater, der både reducerer udledninger og opretholder vækst; landet vil derfor næppe forpligte sig internationalt ud over sine indenlandske mål.
This thesis examines why and how China’s domestic economic processes support its commitment to the Paris Agreement. It argues that China’s current development strategy is guided by a green growth rationale that links environmental sustainability with continued economic expansion and social stability. Climate change is treated as a systemic force that presents both threats (environmental, social, and economic risks with implications for the Communist Party’s legitimacy) and opportunities (a global shift toward a green economy). The study synthesizes neoclassical realism with mainstream economic theory and develops proposition-driven analyses connecting systemic stimuli and state perceptions to green investments and observable outcomes in areas such as renewable energy (including capacity, price trends, patents, and exports). The analysis highlights that large-scale investments and rising R&D spending in renewables simultaneously advance emissions mitigation and strengthen innovation and export performance, aligning China’s national interests with the Paris framework of nationally determined contributions. China’s engagement is expected to persist but will remain closely tied to whether green investments continue to deliver both climate benefits and economic growth; accordingly, China is unlikely to make international pledges that go beyond its domestic targets.
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Keywords
China ; Climate Change ; Domestic ; Economic ; Processes ; Paris Agreement
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