Abstract

China and India are posed to be the major emitters of greenhouse gasses, and thus they have a key role to play in the global fight to climate change. However, policies to mitigate climate change in these two countries must accommodate the economic growth necessary to ensure the fulfilment of their basic development needs. Focusing on China, where mitigation action is more urgent, this article begins with an assessment of the declared intentions in Copenhagen, discusses the current energy system and future energy scenarios, and indicates a possible way to reconcile energy, development and climate. Many an incentive in fact would allow China to embark on a path of convergence with developed countries on the front of mitigation, including the concrete chance of achieving a lead role in key expanding markets as those of new technologies in the energy sector.