Unpacking China’s climate policy mixes shows a disconnect between policy density and intensity in the post-Paris era | npj Climate Action
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As the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, China would make important contributions to the achievement of the Paris goals if it made economy-wide, strong policy interventions to combat climate change. Despite a growing number of studies on China’s climate governance, the overall landscape of China’s climate policy and its key characteristics remain underexamined. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a dataset of 358 climate-related policies adopted by China’s central government in 2016–2022 and assessed key policy mix characteristics including policy density, balance and intensity. Our findings reveal that higher policy density does not equate to stronger action. Significant variation also exists in alignment with China’s Nationally Determined Contributions, especially in high-emitting sectors. Moreover, despite a relatively balanced mix of regulatory, economic, and informational instruments, this balance does not guarantee intensity. Our study shows challenges in China’s policy coherence and calls for stronger mechanisms to integrate national goals into sectoral policies.

Here you can download the study (pdf)

A high number of climate change policies in China does not sufficiently translate to high policy intensity and strong actions, a new study suggests.

It analyzes 358 national climate policies published from 2016 to 2022 in China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter. Especially in high-emitting sectors, China’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets (“objectives”) cover a relatively small number of actors and actions (“scope”), according to the study.

Summary:

  • This is evident in sectors like energy, electricity and heating, which, despite being the largest emitters and having numerous policies, only have moderate policy intensity scores. This disconnect indicates that policy proliferation without policy strength may not effectively advance climate actions.
  • A growing number of policy outputs in China are likely to signal increased government focus on specific climate-related issues, but the relevant actions may not be ambitious enough. For instance, the energy, electricity, and heating sector, despite being the largest emitter and receiving significant policy attention (high policy density), only achieved a moderate policy intensity score.
  • “This disconnect underscores that policy proliferation without corresponding policy strength may not effectively advance climate goals,” the study authors write.
  • The lack of clear objectives and comprehensive scope in high-emitting sectors like transportation and buildings is likely to hinder the effectiveness of policy implementation, indicating a need for more targeted and ambitious policy design
  • The findings reveal that higher policy density does not equate to stronger action. Significant variation also exists in alignment with China’s NDCs, especially in high-emitting sectors. Moreover, despite a relatively balanced mix of regulatory, economic, and informational instruments, this balance does not guarantee intensity.