Gavin Newsom's Climate Change Lessons from China

author: FutureCar Staff    

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently made a speech at the United Nations, bringing attention to California's climate policies. However, as he prepares to meet with Chinese officials to discuss the same subject, it is important for him to listen as much as he speaks.

California has been a leader in environmental matters, and even countries like China have looked to the Golden State for ideas on reducing air pollution and increasing clean energy production. California has a comprehensive climate action plan in place to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

Despite California's leadership, the state has seen a decline in areas such as solar power, energy-efficient construction, and home insurance market stability. It would be a mistake for Newsom to solely focus on what China can learn from California. To maintain its global leadership on climate issues, California must also learn from China.

China has achieved remarkable progress in clean energy and transportation over the past decade. It has deployed these technologies on an impressive scale, generating enough power from clean sources to power Germany six times over. While China still relies heavily on coal-fired power plants, its renewable energy sector has experienced significant growth.

During a recent visit to Beijing, I witnessed a transformed electric vehicle landscape. The city's taxi fleet had largely transitioned to electric vehicles, and zero-emission vehicles from various brands, mostly Chinese, were everywhere. Chinese drivers have purchased a total of 13.8 million electric vehicles, accounting for 29% of all auto sales in China in 2022.

Although California has performed better than the United States as a whole in terms of electric vehicle sales, there is still room to learn from China. Newsom's goal of phasing out gas-powered vehicles by 2035 could benefit from China's experiences and policies.

So what should Newsom be listening for? California's climate ambitions can only be achieved by deploying clean energy and transportation on an unprecedented scale, and China has valuable insights to offer. China's strong industrial policy, fiscal support for renewable energy, and ambitious targets for clean energy deployment have brought the country to its current position. China is also a leader in offshore wind energy production, an area of emphasis for Newsom in California.

Additionally, China has implemented consumer incentives and strengthened regulations to make electric vehicles more accessible and appealing. While not all of China's approaches may be suitable for California, many can be adapted and implemented successfully.

However, China can also learn from California. Despite its rapid progress in clean energy technologies, China still has a long way to go to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. Newsom should seek opportunities for collaboration in areas where California plans to make aggressive moves, such as methane mitigation, energy efficiency, industrial decarbonization, hydrogen development, cap-and-trade, and climate adaptation.

Methane mitigation, in particular, is an area where cooperation between California and China could be fruitful. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and reducing its emissions is crucial. Newsom recently announced the Subnational Methane Action Initiative, which aims to reduce methane emissions globally. China's participation in this initiative would be significant, as it would demonstrate a commitment to addressing the environmental impact of its reliance on coal. International cooperation can also benefit California's own methane mitigation efforts.

The best outcome of continued climate collaboration between California and China would be mutual encouragement to improve on methane and other climate issues. Every state and country has room for improvement and a compelling reason to act swiftly.

Alex Wang, a faculty co-director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and a professor of law at the UCLA School of Law, emphasizes the importance of collaboration between California and China in addressing climate change.

FutureCar Staff