China, ADB aim to further cooperation on emission reduction through new roadmap

PARIS -- China will work closely with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) towards its carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction targets, as the two sides jointly launched here on Tuesday a visionary road map for the demonstration and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

The roadmap was launched on the sidelines of the ongoing Paris Climate Change Conference, with the participation of China Climate Change Special Representative Xie Zhenhua and ADB President Takehiko Nakao.

The project, led by the Department of Climate Change of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China and managed by ADB, aims to inform decision-makers on a scientific basis about China's readiness to use the CCS technology, as well as about the urgency to expand its deployment rapidly.

It proposes a detailed timeline for China to gradually deploy CCS technology from 2015 to 2050, which incorporates the priority emission cuts targets in China's 13th Five-Year Plan.

The long-term goal of the roadmap, expected from 2030 onwards, is the projected CCS deployment path that will lead to a cumulative avoidance of CO2 emissions.

To achieve that, the roadmap recommends China demonstrate low-cost CO2 capture in coal-chemical plants and at one or two coal-fired power plants, and to carry out intensive research to overcome high costs and other hurdles in coal-fired power plants.

ADB has been an important supporter for China in reducing emissions and fighting climate change, Xie said, adding the new roadmap will see the two sides embark on further cooperation in leveraging funding and transferring innovative technologies, which will help China boost its ability to adapt to climate change.

Nakao said that ADB, together with the Chinese government, is now selecting a few pilot cities to develop clear pathways to peak out CO2 emissions much earlier. "Lessons learned from these cities can be widely disseminated to other areas within China to reinforce city and local level actions," he said.

There are currently nine small CCS pilot projects in operation in China, according to ADB, and the challenge is to scale up and commercialize.

The CCS technology is a process of capturing CO2 from fossil fuel power plants, and transporting it to a storage site, which prevents the release of large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere.