Chinese electric car and SD-PAM: a case study

Abstract

This study analyses the feasibility of China's electric car policies as a potential Sustainable Development – Policies and Measures (SD-PAM)/National Appropriate Mitigation Action credited action. In doing so, it brings an additional perspective to the discussion regarding institutional arrangements intended to promote climate mitigation through development policies, by highlighting the particular challenges of introducing a new technology in an environment where there have been no previous policies. The article confirms the large mitigation potential of similar policies in the Chinese context. Yet, it also highlights some potential problems in making it an SD-PAM. One concerns the challenges of establishing baseline criteria and time scales for greenhouse gas mitigation as well as finding a suitable definition of additionality. Second, it provides insights into some particular implementation problems in the Chinese context related to appointment and budget matters. Third, it illustrates the problems of finding external support for a technology transfer that effectively helps the Chinese to leapfrog many development steps to effectively create a gigantic and competitive market. Finally, it argues that there might be geopolitical reasons why China may not be interested in national SD-PAM projects.

Keywords:

• China
• SD-PAM
• electric cars
• mitigation
• side effects
• baseline
• technology transfer