DrDavidTyfieldCeMoReSociology,Lancaster.pptVIP

Dr David Tyfield CeMoRe/Sociology, Lancaster University Working with China on Sustainable Growth:The Climate Change, Environment, Energy Nexus Wilton Park, 9th October 2009 Financing Low Carbon China Low Carbon Technology – An Urgent Priority 450 ppm CO2e needs drastic GHGs cuts (80-90%) by 2050 There is no evidence of higher growth w/o higher emissions China India … have a right to economic development Decarbonisation of economic growth (esp. energy use) Timing: more difficult and expensive with each year Significant danger of high carbon lock-in Massive roll-out and invention of low-carbon technologies Why not happening already? Financing a big issue. China Climate Change: A Social Problem China both vulnerable climatically and crucial to solution China is a developing country: cannot and must not be forced to choose between environment and development Globally no.1 in GHG emissions now and growing Low historical and per capita emissions BUT changing: as early as 2020 per capita could be double EU. Vs. huge opportunity from massive infrastructure investment (e.g. equivalent of entire European building stock) – how? not if China must take a leading role in a global low carbon shift Can/will China ‘leapfrog’ to new ‘green’ development model? China’s innovation capacity as Q of place in IDIL + global value hierarchy Financing Low Carbon Technology? ‘Finance’ not just funding but whatever mobilizes investment: Regulation, Standards Fiscal regime Organisational forms Conditions for effective demand (e.g. infrastructure) Inseparable from bigger issues too, e.g. (global) political economy – International Division of Labour of Innovation Technology? Or Innovation? What (type of) innovation? Socio-technical process, so not just (directly) financing barriers Directions of socio-technical change, not just quantity:‘What low-carbon (global) societies do we want to live in?’ Finance Questions Assuming problem is financing low-carbon technology: What