{"id":66949,"date":"2020-09-11T13:34:13","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T13:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/?post_type=opinion&p=66949"},"modified":"2020-09-11T13:56:48","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T13:56:48","slug":"what-are-the-prospects-of-an-eu-china-climate-deal","status":"publish","type":"opinion","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/what-are-the-prospects-of-an-eu-china-climate-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the prospects of an EU\u2013China climate deal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The last EU\u2013China Summit in June did not end in the typical way \u2013 with a joint declaration and the renewal of the extensive agenda for cooperation <\/a>\u2013 but instead with two press debriefs with markedly different emphases. The meeting embodied the new tripartite European approach<\/a> to China as a negotiating partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival; while the debrief<\/a> on the Chinese side emphasised the potential for cooperation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following growing public scrutiny<\/a> on EU\u2013China relations, the European public is wary of cooperation unless it clearly benefits European core interests. This applies to ongoing trade negotiations and across areas of international cooperation, including climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite ongoing tensions, both the EU and China are clear that staying in dialogue is essential. As current EU president, Germany remains keen on a meeting between China\u2019s president, Xi Jinping, and the 27 EU heads of government later in the year. Furthermore, China\u2019s foreign minister stressed<\/a> the need to cooperate with the EU on multilateralism during his recent five-country European tour. The challenge to cooperation remains however, with Brussels no longer thinking<\/a> Beijing shares the same approach to multilateralism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is climate the key to successful multilateralism?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although trade will be the focus of the EU\u2013China leaders\u2019 call on 14 September, it would be a mistake to think climate is off the summit\u2019s agenda or unimportant in the broader relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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European leaders have committed to climate neutrality by 2050 through the European Green Deal<\/a>, the EU\u2019s long-term economic growth strategy. The European Green Deal requires the EU to work with its partners, including China, to build resilient supply chains of low-carbon technologies and develop standards for sustainable products. As such, climate will increasingly be a core interest for EU foreign trade policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For China, climate cooperation strengthens its credibility as a responsible player on the world stage at a time when Europeans view China with increasing scepticism<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actions not words: re-building credibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether the EU approaches China as a negotiating partner or a systemic rival in global climate governance will largely depend on what China brings to the negotiation table. There is a lot riding on how these proposals align with European core interests. Here are three key areas the EU will be looking at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Strong and credible climate targets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU has set a 2050 climate-neutral target and European leaders are committed to increasing<\/a> their international climate target by the end of 2020. Final decisions are likely to take place towards the end of the year, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on 12 December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen laid out<\/a> three benchmarks for credible Chinese climate action at the June summit. At a minimum China must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n