US-China Climate Cooperation in Shanxi

SHANXI (Aug. 24-27, 2015) – Shanxi Province’s policies and monitoring of carbon emission are on the verge of great change thanks to a very productive three-day Training Seminar on “Low Carbon Policy  Quantitative Analysis Toolkit” held by the Chinese NGO, Global Environmental Institute (GEI), and the US-based, Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), at the Shanxi Research Centre for Eco-environmental Science (RCESS).

GEI, CCS and members of the training – GEI 2015

On the morning of August 27, 2015, experts from GEI and CCS met with Jin YUAN, Director of RCESS, and Xiaohua GE, Head of the Institute of Low Carbon Development, finalized cooperation and agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, which covers arrangement of technical trainings on Quantitative Analysis of Carbon Policy and technical support to the policy analysis and assessment in Shanxi province.

Additionally, RCESS will lead a low-carbon development plan for the Shanxi cities of Yangquan and Jincheng as well as research the low-carbon strategy and peak emissions of the Shanxi’s 13th Five-year Plan.

Before this meeting, GEI and CCS hosted training seminars for their “Low Carbon Policy Quantitative Analysis Toolkit” for more than 30 experts from RCESS, Shanxi Academy of Social Science, and Shanxi University.

The “Low Carbon Policy Quantitative Analysis Toolkit” analyzes the micro- and macro- economic impact of regional GHG inventory and emission reduction. The seminar also included discussions on GHG emission inventory and forecasting, policy design, sector-based microeconomic policy analysis and regional macroeconomic impact assessment based on Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI).

GEI designed the toolkit and trainings to so provide a roadmap for cost-based emission reduction policy so to facilitate government’s decision-making process.

Members of the training hard at work – GEI 2015

About Low Carbon Development in Shanxi

Holding the meeting with RCESS and Low Carbon Development, as well as the preceding trainings, in Shanxi was particularly suitable as Shanxi is one of the major coal-producing provinces in China.

Mr. Dongsheng WU, Head of Climate Department of Shanxi Development and Reform Commission, showed his support of GEI and CCS by attending the training seminar and delivering a speech.

In his remarks, Mr. Wu noted that Shanxi Province is a major energy producer in China and ranks high in both aggregate and per-capita carbon emission. He also mentioned that the provincial government has been seeking a means to transition since 2012. To this end, he hopes that the government may adopt the US’s experience to China to create a policy for a low carbon economy.

Mr. Wu also noted that both micro- and macroeconomic analysis are crucial to decision-making. As such, he encourages provincial research institutes to enhance their capacity of quantitative analysis so to provide technical support to decision makers.

The diplomatic cooperation, as well as the support from Shanxi government, continues GEIs tradition of successful training seminars. In fact, GEI has been working with Tianjin Administration Institute, Jinan University and other institutions, to carry out technical trainings on carbon policy analysis toolkit since 2013.