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Laura Tripp
Mr. Phillips
AP English III
December 7, 2015
Necessity of Chinas 2030 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goal
How would it feel to lose a loved one because of the governments negligence to take
better care of the environment? Not everyone takes this into consideration, for environmental
concerns often seem distant and unimportant to many people today especially those whose lives
are not threatened by smog, or an unhealthy mixture of fog and pollutants in the atmosphere. In
China, however, smog is a very pressing issue due to the large amount of greenhouse gas
emissions, primarily carbon emissions. China has spent long enough turning their back on the
needs of their citizens and continuing to worsen the atmosphere of the world, so it is time to
make improvements for the future. The United Nations climate change summit in Paris in late
2015 presents the perfect opportunity for China to show how willing they are to make changes
and fulfill their promise from June 2015, to peak their greenhouse gas emissions before 2030. It
would be in Chinas best interests to maintain its plans for peaking greenhouse gas emissions by
2030 because as a world power they have the responsibility to be an example for other nations,
they need to keep pace with the goals and advancements of other countries, and they need to
create a safe place for travelers and Chinese citizens.
In order to maintain its status as a world power, China needs to preserve the support and
respect of other nations by showing its commitment to improving the environment and helping

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developing countries. According to The Namibian, other countries pleading for environmental
laws disliked China at the last climate talk in Copenhagen when Chinese representatives were
against the goals of reducing carbon (Chinese Emissions to Rise). In order to prevent further
hostilities, China must reaffirm their emissions goal in agreement with the plans proposed by
other countries at the upcoming conference. Additionally, it will be crucial for China to commit
to reducing carbon emissions because an international arrangement concerning global warming
relies on Chinas pledge (Buckley). Xie Zhenua also highlights the need for consensus at the
upcoming summit because he believes the financial and technological support from developed
countries is an important measure to encourage actions from developing countries (Salvacion).
The Namibian, Buckley, and Zhenua all present the idea that China has a large part of the
responsibility to set the bar for the rest of world when it comes to preventing global warming and
reducing carbon emissions. China has the similar duty to developing countries as a mother would
to a child. Therefore, Chinas pledge to peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is extremely
important, so all nations have a common time frame and an example to go by in mind. The
upcoming summit in Paris along with a responsibility to do their share in an effort to prevent
global warming and to help weaker countries is bounding China to its commitment to peak
greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Part of lowering greenhouse gas emissions is finding alternate energy sources or more
renewable resources including wind, water, and solar energy. As part of Chinas plan for
improvements, the Chinese government plans to have twenty percent of its energy come from
non-fossil sources by 2030 (Allan). Planning the transition to renewable resources helps China
set an example for other nations while they are also advancing for the future and staying ahead of
other countries. Peter Ford of The Christian Science Monitor confirms Chinas advancement by

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mentioning that China has become increasingly devoted to renewable energy sources, quicker
than any other country in the world and is finding ways to base its economic success off of these
changes. If China has already begun the transition to renewable resources and can gain an
economic advantage from it, why would they not attempt to eradicate the use of polluting
sources as soon as possible? The 2030 emissions goal gives China a reason to continue their
transition. It would be best for them to meet that goal, so they will have upper-hand later on
when they have already developed methods for withdrawing energy while other countries are just
beginning. A 2.3 percent drop in the use of coal from 2014 to 2015, reaffirmed by Greenpeace
and the International Energy Agency, confirms that it would not be a good idea to continue using
coal (Chen). The drop in coal usage and the fact that China can base economic success off of
these changes to renewable resources exhibits why the goal to peak greenhouse gas emissions by
2030 seems to be a logical and required goal for future success.
It will be difficult for China to have any success however, if they do not attempt to
maintain public support. Part of the support should come from their citizens who are fed up with
the smog that inhabits every large city. China is now checking in on its corporations pollution
output because every passing year Chinas atmosphere results in over a million premature
deaths, accumulates more acidic rainfall which harms Chinas farming, causes scholars to prefer
studying elsewhere, and damages the tourism industry (Denyer). How can China allow these
deaths and other damaging effects to go on when there is a potential solution? These devastating
consequences make it seem as if lowering greenhouse gases could only have a positive impact.
According to The Namibian the smog is driving public anger and discontent with communist
authorities (Chinese Emissions to Rise). For these reasons, China cannot allow the
emission of greenhouse gases to continue to grow because their cities would become too unsafe

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to live in, and it could lead to protests and revolts. China is also trying to meet the needs of the
rest of the world by preparing for the Winter Olympics of 2022 through their work to decrease
the pollutants in the air (Ajiri). The Olympics are yet another reason to keep the air clean for
healthy and happy citizens, so people will not have an incentive to detest China. Therefore the
decision to change over to more renewable resources and peak greenhouse gas emissions by
2030 is not just for global warming. It will save lives and secure success and support from
Chinas citizens and other nations in the future. Peter Ford of The Christian Science Monitor
stated that China has decided to change its method of economic development because their
current conditions are not ideal for the future and they are diverting support from their citizens.
This will ultimately be a wise move on Chinas part, for they will have a majority of home-based
support that will be beneficial on other ventures. Furthermore because of the outrageous number
of deaths each year and negative consequences of pollution Chinas best option would be to
attempt to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve the atmospheric conditions in their
cities.
As opposed to those pleading for a drop in emissions, some individuals believe it will
cause too many issues to try to reduce emissions by 2030, and a slower approach would be
better. They may argue that it will be increasingly difficult to reach that goal because coal has
been greatly involved in the economic success of China, and in the coming decade urban areas
will have an additional 250 million Chinese moving from the countryside, leading to greater
numbers of automobiles and industries (Chinese Emissions to Rise). Considering these
challenges, Chinas spokesperson on environmental concerns, Xie Zhenhua, assures that China
will stick to their promises despite the difficulties and that their goals were derived from a
corroboration developed by scientists over a period of two years (Salvacion). The enlistment of

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these scientists shows that China has spent time and money ensuring the details of their 2030
plan are realistic and worthwhile. Not only is China capable of achieving the 2030 goal but it
will also be required in order to meet the global warming goal that is being discussed at the Paris
climate summit. Li Shuo, from Greenpeace in Beijing, states that Chinas current goals alone will
not be able to keep global warming below two degrees but should rather be a floor, the starting
point, not the finish line (Ford). If the goal of peaking emissions by 2030 is not enough to
prevent global warming from increasing then how could it be okay for China to take less action
or make slower progress? It can only get worse with time, and it is similar to when a teenager
procrastinates doing their homework which they know they will have to do anyway. The only
difference is China cannot simply stay up one night and do it all; lowering greenhouse gas
emissions is a gradual process. The atmosphere will not be put on hold while corporations
attempt to find alternate methods of energy or other methods for producing income that do not
involve greenhouse gases. China has proven their dedication to lowering greenhouse gas
emissions, in spite of the complications, because peoples lives and the future of the world are at
stake.
The dedication of the Chinese government demonstrates the path to a better environment
has already begun. China should persist with the transition to renewable resources, so they can
meet their goal of peaking greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It would also be beneficial to
encourage the movement of citizens into outer suburbs and the country in order to prevent
overpopulation in the cities. Overpopulation leads to increasing pollution, and it is a primary
contributor to the smog that inhabits many of Chinese cities today. For those who would prefer a
slower approach or do not understand the importance lowering greenhouse gas emissions as soon
as possible, China could clearly state their intentions and reasons for action in a press conference

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or press release following the climate summit in late 2015. China should mention that their
movements to improve the environment will greatly improve the conditions of China itself. They
would also be providing opportunities and encouraging other countries to pursue the same path.
Once all countries begin the movement to protect the environment, the world will be a safer and
more sustainable place for future generations.

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Works Cited
Ajiri, Denise Hassanzade. "China's Air Kills 4,000 People a Day--But Not for Long, Say
Officials." Christian Science Monitor. 15 Aug. 2015: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web.
19 Nov. 2015.
Allan, Phil. "US and China Advance Policies to Limit Carbon Emissions."Energy Voice. Energy
Voice, 18 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Buckley, Chris. "China's Carbon Emissions May Be Overstated, Study Finds." New York Times.
20 Aug. 2015: A.8. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Chen, Cathaleen. "As Coal Use Fades, Renewables Take Center Stage." Christian Science
Monitor. 11 Nov. 2015: n/a. SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Chinas Historic Climate Change Announcement." CCTV America. N.p., 19 Nov. 2015. Web.
20 Nov. 2015.
"Chinese Emissions to Rise despite Coal Peak." The Namibian. The Namibian, 20 Nov. 2015.
Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Denyer, Simon. "Advocates Hail Action by China on Air Pollution." Washington Post. 03 Feb.
2014: p. A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

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Ford, Peter. "Paris Climate Summit: Will China Be Seen as a Leader or a Villain?" The Christian
Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
Salvacion, Manny. "China Vows to Meet Goals to Cut Greenhouse Gases as Pledged to
UN." Yibada RSS. Yibada, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.