Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) actively engaged with climate policy in China in 2022-24, taking broadly positive positions in its top-line climate messaging. The association supported China’s 2030 and 2060 climate targets and strongly supported the China Emissions Trading System, but took less clearly supportive positions on the energy transition.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) engaged positively in its top-line messaging on climate policy in 2022-24. In a May 2024 news release, the chamber called for urgent action to combat climate change, and in a September 2023 position paper supported China’s 2060 carbon neutrality target. In a September 2023 position paper, the EUCCC stated broad support for the achievement of goals at COP26. President Joerg Wuttke supported government regulation in an article published in Energy Magazine in July 2023, but qualified this support by stating that regulations should not be ‘overly strict’.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policies: The European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) engaged primarily positively with climate-related regulations in 2022-24. In an April 2024 news release, the chamber broadly supported the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM). In September 2023 position papers, the EUCCC supported the inclusion of ‘high-emitting sectors’ such as the building and chemicals sectors in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), and suggested that delays due to poor reporting was hindering China’s decarbonization progress. The EUCCC engaged consistently positively with energy efficiency standards in 2022-23, for example stating support for continuing to raise minimum energy performance standards in a September 2023 position paper. In a September 2023 position paper, the chamber supported renewable energy legislation in China such as renewable portfolio standards and rules to incentivize renewable projects. The EUCCC supported policies to incentivize the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels in a September 2023 position paper.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) engaged broadly positively with policy related to the energy transition in 2022-24, but with some exceptions. The chamber consistently called for improved green energy procurement processes, for example in a May 2024 news release. The EUCCC appeared generally supportive of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and REPowerEU as well as the development of green hydrogen as part of China’s Hydrogen Industry Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2021–2035) in a June 2023 news release. In position papers from September 2023, the chamber broadly supported the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors including the maritime sector, chemical sector, and building sector. In a September 2023 position paper, the EUCCC supported a transition from coal to gas, but was unclear to what extent CCS would accompany this transition, as well as supported renewable energy, green hydrogen, and other low-carbon fuels. In July 2024, the chamber supported the decarbonization of transport in a news release and emphasized the need for EU-China cooperation in this regard.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the association’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2024.