The Centre for Policy Development has kindly published my Thinking Point on how we can understand China’s carbon emissions conundrum.

Alexander White tackles two issues that seem too hard for our political system to handle: China and climate change. China’s response to climate change has shaped the course of climate negotiations. They were accused of stymieing negotiations at Copenhagen, and conservatives have used China’s reticence to adopt binding carbon reduction targets as an excuse for taking no action at all. But as China becomes the world’s largest carbon polluter, it is also on track to become the largest global producer of renewable energy. It’s a catch-22 for the Chinese Government – continued growth is essential to reduce domestic poverty, while the effects of climate change threaten its national security.

What is motivating the Chinese leadership and what can Australia do?

[box]Read the entire Thinking Point at CPD and don’t forget to sign up to their updates.[/box]