This newspaper article: How can the Chengdu-Chongqing region sing the "tale of two cities" of climate governance?
The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle has an altitude difference of more than 5,000 meters, a relatively closed terrain, and many tributaries of the Yangtze River, carrying about 7% of the population and 6% of the output value with less than 2% of the country's land area. In 2022, the region experienced persistent and widespread high temperature weather, with the strongest comprehensive intensity on record, causing serious economic losses.
The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle will continue to increase in temperature in the coming period, with high temperature heat waves and extreme precipitation becoming more frequent, the phenomenon of "heat islands", "rain islands" and "polluted islands" in megacities will also intensify, drought and water shortage in some areas, forest fire risk levels will be high, and power security and inland river transportation will face new challenges.
In recent years, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle has launched ten joint actions to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, signed cooperation documents on climate change response, climate investment and financing, built the "Carbon Benefit Tianfu" and "Carbon Benefit" carbon reduction incentive mechanisms, carried out the construction of green energy transformation, multi-level rail transit, and electric and hydrogen transportation corridors, strengthened the ability of urban residents to escape the summer heat and ensure power supply, and made certain progress in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
At the same time, the regional integrated climate change monitoring and evaluation mechanism is not smooth, the greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem carbon sink databases have not yet been connected across regions, the problem of "heavy mitigation and light adaptation" is still prominent, the coordinated linkage of regional and urban pollution reduction and carbon reduction is insufficient, the level of low-carbon development and climate resilience in some key areas needs to be improved, the comprehensive competitiveness of green and low-carbon industries is not strong, and there is a gap with the requirements of the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. The author believes that in the face of the new situation and new needs, we should put climate change in a more important position, give full play to the leading role of Chengdu and Chongqing, coordinate mitigation and adaptation, and build a climate-smart economic circle with national influence.
The first is to highlight the guidance of planning and enhance the identifiability of climate governance. Adhering to the integrated thinking, we will strengthen top-level design and comprehensive planning, and integrate climate change goals and key tasks into the overall consideration of the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, and integrate various actions and policies at all levels. Jointly carry out forward-looking research in the 15th Five-Year Plan and beyond, and propose a medium- and long-term timetable and roadmap for addressing climate change. Taking into account the short-term extreme weather and climate challenges and medium- and long-term climate change risks, we should strengthen the design of the overall framework for adaptation, formulate a joint action plan for adaptation to climate change, strengthen the resilience of water resources, electricity, transportation and other fields, and explore a climate resilience development path with the characteristics of Bashan Shushui. Accelerate the coordination of policies for pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and jointly carry out synergistic actions and innovative pilot projects for pollution reduction and carbon reduction.
The second is to improve the linkage mechanism and enhance the coordination of climate governance. In accordance with the framework layout of "unification and separation", on the one hand, we will give full play to the leading role of the ecological environment and development and reform departments, promote the establishment of a special group for the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle to respond to climate change, strengthen cooperation with neighboring regions, strengthen overall consultation and regular scheduling, and form a list of needs, policies and work. On the other hand, relying on the coordination mechanism in the fields of meteorology, forestry and grassland, ecological environment, water conservancy, energy, transportation, emergency response, etc., the control of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change will be included in the scope of work linkage and cooperation, focusing on strengthening the construction of green and low-carbon industries, the construction of green supply chain industrial chains, the mutual adjustment and mutual adjustment of power supply, upstream and downstream flood cooperation and defense, and cross-regional linkage of emergency rescue.
The third is to strengthen scientific and technological support and improve the scientific nature of climate governance. Give full play to the advantages of universities and scientific research institutions, build a network of climate change research institutions, and build a number of climate change innovation teams around carbon climate change monitoring and assessment, carbon capture, utilization and storage, green hydrogen, carbon asset management, etc. Focusing on the Sichuan Basin, we will scientifically lay out a three-dimensional monitoring network for climate change observation and greenhouse gas emissions, jointly compile climate change monitoring bulletins, strengthen historical climate change impact assessment and future climate change risk prediction, and build a long-series, multi-level, and cross-administrative greenhouse gas emissions database. Strengthen basic, strategic, and forward-looking research, build regional climate and energy economic models, and strengthen the research and development, selection and promotion of appropriate technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in key areas.
Fourth, we should highlight the classification of regions and optimize the overall layout of climate governance. In terms of adaptation, combined with the climate change and risk characteristics of the Chengdu Plain, the central Sichuan hills, the parallel ridges and valleys in eastern Sichuan, and the mountainous areas around the basin, adaptation actions should be carried out according to local conditions, so as to enhance the resilience and disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities of hilly and mountainous ecosystems, promote the development of climate-smart agriculture in rural areas, improve the modernization level of flood control and drainage facilities in cities and towns along the river, and build climate-adaptive cities. In terms of mitigation, we will develop green and low-carbon industries such as clean energy equipment, new energy vehicles, and batteries, and promote the multi-energy complementarity of water, wind, solar, hydrogen storage, and natural gas, and make good use of mechanisms such as carbon market, carbon inclusiveness, and carbon finance to accelerate energy conservation, efficiency, and structural carbon reduction in energy, industry, and transportation, and promote digital empowerment and green transformation.
Fifth, we need to promote public participation and build a broad pattern of climate governance. Strengthen mechanism innovation, promote the integration of carbon inclusive or ecological product value realization mechanisms, plan to build a regionally integrated carbon inclusive mechanism, realize cross-regional and diversified consumption of carbon emission reduction credit indicators, and support the creation of a number of carbon neutrality scenarios that are convenient for the people and beneficial to enterprises. We will jointly explore and carry out pilot demonstrations such as collaborative innovation in pollution reduction and carbon reduction, climate-friendly enterprises and projects, climate-resilient towns and projects, and "zero-waste cells", so as to drive cities, parks, enterprises and the public to actively participate in addressing climate change. With local natural and cultural elements as the carrier, we will innovate and develop climate change science popularization cultural and creative products, build a climate change science popularization volunteer team for different ages, and create a good social atmosphere.
Author's Affilications:Sichuan Provincial Institute of Environmental Policy Research and Planning
