Project: Sino German Cooperation on Climate Change - NDC Implementation

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Effort sharing, in the EU context, refers to a policy framework, and associated legislation, whereby the EU’s overall emissions reduction
target is translated to targets for individual Member States. This paper looks at the EU’s effort sharing approach to greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions reductions: how EU-wide emissions reduction targets have been translated to individual Member State targets, what policies
have been put in place at the EU and Member State levels to ensure said targets are met, and what have been the results thus far. This
examination has been carried out with the view of providing useful lessons for China and its provinces.

As the impacts of climate change are now being experienced across the globe, so the scale of the adaptation challenge is becoming
increasingly apparent. Over the last decade, almost every nation has begun the process of adaptation planning in some form. At a national
level, many countries now have National Adaptation Strategies or National Adaptation Plans. These often inform, and are informed by,
sub-national adaptation planning processes which are usually tailored to the governance structure of the country and the different tiers
of government which may exist. The number of sectoral adaptation plans has also grown considerably, as countries better understand the
distinct challenges of adapting to climate change.
The growing demand for adaptation planning has generated a burgeoning academic literature, but also an exponential growth in practical
guidance, tools and resources aimed at those tasked with developing adaptation plans. While climate adaptation is inherently context
specific, it is clear that a number of key principles for good adaptation planning can be identified which can be of considerable value
to those beginning this process. More specifically, the framing of adaptation as a cycle is extremely valuable for those trying to interpret
national level approaches in a sub-national context. This approach emphasises adaptation planning as a continual process, rather than an
end goal, which is especially important as we continue to experience worsening climate change impacts, including multiple interacting
impacts in increasingly dynamic social and economic contexts.
The purpose of this briefing note is to consider and compare the more practical literature on adaptation in order to reflect on how the
process of adaptation planning has been conceptualised, and to identify lessons from this continually evolving field which can be used as
China begins to strengthen adaptation at the sub-national level. We focus particularly on experiences from Europe and Germany, however
it should be noted that many of the key concepts are consistently used globally, and have proven to be useful in a multitude of contexts.

Phasing out fossil fuels in Inner Mongolia’s heating sector is a requirement to meet the central government’s climate objectives. Achieving
the Chinese national goals of peaking emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 (“30/60 goals”) will require the energy systems of
all provinces and sectors to transform away from fossil fuels to the wide penetration of renewables. Such transformation will require careful
and timely planning to allow for the development and commercialisation of appropriate technology and to avoid locking in fossil fuel
reliant technologies and infrastructure. As one of the coldest Chinese provinces and endowed with rich coal resources, the heating sector
of Inner Mongolia is energy intensive and a large CO2 emitter, Following population growth, urbanisation and increasing living standards,
residential heat demand in Inner Mongolia is growing more rapidly compared to any other Chinese province. Yet, Inner Mongolia is
among the provinces with the highest renewables potential. Using that potential with already available and emerging heating technologies
could be an opportunity for the province to avoid carbon lock-in of long-life fossil fuel-based heating infrastructure while delivering
additional sustainable development benefits.