![]() ![]() Despite the positive effects reduced economic activity can have on emissions, which some estimates suggest have fallen significantly this year, economic downturns are not conducive to bold policy targets that may affect growth or energy security. These natural disasters are also taking place against the backdrop of a severe economic slowdown and unprecedented lockdowns in pursuit of the government’s “zero-COVID” policy, which are worsening China’s prospects for growth. This will not be easy to achieve and we’re likely to see more disruption before we see progress. Like other countries, China’s mitigation efforts will require a transformation of the power and industrial sectors, but the government also faces an urgent need to plan for a world with a less predictable climate. Natural disasters ranging from droughts to floods have similarly highlighted the need for better climate adaptation measures including resilient infrastructure, better early warning and disaster management systems, and solutions for food insecurity brought on by climate change. While the severity of the heatwave may have been unpredictable, it was significantly worsened by China’s inflexible power grid system. This summer’s heatwave, and the disruption it caused in China’s Sichuan province, are emblematic of future challenges for countries as they weather the worsening effects of climate change. As extreme weather continues to worsen within its borders, what kinds of immediate and long-term challenges will China face? And with the next round of UN climate negotiations set for November, what do China’s actions mean for global efforts to address climate change? - The Editors In early August, Beijing suspended long-planned U.S.-China talks on climate change because of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. ![]() Despite vows to cut CO2 emissions, and to peak coal usage in 2025, Beijing announced last spring that coal production would be increased. As global temperatures continue to rise in the coming decades, China will face a steep economic and human cost.īut even as the country grapples with the impacts of global warming, a combination of domestic economic and international political factors may hamper Beijing’s response. In June, nearly half a million people were impacted by rain that flooded cities across the south. Shanxi province faced record rainfall in August, and at least 16 people were killed by flooding in Qinghai. The heat spikes are not the only extreme weather China must confront. In Sichuan province, many factories were forced to suspend operations for more than a week. As in summers past, the severe heat has led to spikes in energy use which economists warn will likely lead to supply chain snarls. In terms of area spanned, the heatwave has set a global record. Hundreds of cities are facing temperatures in the 90s and higher, and Beijing last month issued its first nationwide drought warning in nearly a decade. ![]() For more than two months, China-along with the rest of the globe-has been struggling with extreme heat and severe droughts. ![]()
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