Critical climate issues toward carbon neutrality targets

Abstract

In 2020, China announced the ''emission peak, carbon neutrality'' policy, that is, China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. The scenario of carbon neutrality will be significantly distinguished from the scenario we experienced since the industrial revolution. However, instrumental data are unavailable in the future carbon-neutral scenario. Earth system models and climate dynamics theory are needed to comprehend and project the climate change. In this paper, we illustrate our perspective of the issues related to ''emission peak, carbon neutrality'', including climate dynamics, climate-carbon feedback, interaction between China and global climate and carbon emissions and solutions, etc. We highlight that climate change has profoundly affected human production and life. The frequent occurrence of extreme weather disasters in recent years, together with the impact of epidemics, make the future ''carbon peak & carbon-neutral'' scenario more complex. There is whopping uncertainty but also a massive challenge to the scientific community. Thus, carbon neutrality is closely related to domestic production and lives, and there is little time left for planning. We believe that we will make a breakthrough in climate dynamics in the context of carbon neutrality with our joint efforts, which will serve our country's carbon emission policy at different stages.

Keywords

• Carbon neutrality
• Climate dynamics
• Climate-carbon feedback
• Diplomacy
• Possible solutions
• Future prospects