Why are you planning a conference on carbon neutrality with China? Are not the challenges of the two countries too different?
Katharina Kohse-Höinghaus: Both of us have been in China a long time and it is simply evident that achieving carbon neutrality is not possible without China. China is one of the biggest contributors to climate gas emissions. In terms of emissions per capita per year, however, we are somewhat the same – with eight tonnes of CO2 per capita per year. Of course, China has a much larger population, so more has to happen there than in Germany, but this is already the case – with fast approval procedures and state support.
Harald Fuchs: Another comparison: Both countries use little oil and gas, and have to date relied on carbon and nuclear power. And the fact that complementary approaches can be used also speaks for the cooperation. Every country has different mechanisms. In China, the translation of research into application is in particular structured differently. And there we have, I believe, a good mix of different approaches in technology transfer which we can discuss.
So how can each side help each other advance regarding CO2 neutrality?
Kohse-Höinghaus: There are different sectors, not only the energy sector, but also, for example, the construction industry. Concrete is very CO2 intensive. There is a high construction rate in China and when it comes to insulation in Germany, not everything has been implemented yet. Then we have steel production and the chemical industry, where both countries are striving for green processes. These are important areas on the path to carbon neutrality.
Fuchs: In both countries there is battery development. China is 10 times further ahead than we are. China is much stronger than us in this regard. Of course, there are also secondary effects of the presence of CO2, for example the release of methane from permafrost and stone, and bound CO2 in seaweed. These processes take a long time. The broad application of new technologies and cooperation is very important so that we can work more efficiently and in several directions at once in various critical areas.
Kohse-Höinghaus: When it comes to CO2 neutrality, there are so many areas needing improvement which are very important to interdisciplinary exchange. Sector coupling and the feedback effect alone means that scientific disciplines must work together.
China wants to be carbon neutral by 2060 but is still building coal power stations. How will that work?
Kohse-Höinghaus: We have to accept that coal is currently an important energy source in China. But large photovoltaic and wind power stations are also being built. In 2022, China was home to roughly 35 percent of all the photovoltaic capacity installed worldwide. The peak for coal is expected before 2030 – we’ll have to wait and see if that works out.
Fuchs: Coal is also a bridging technology in China. China has the advantage of being a very big country. Massive, sprawling solar plants are mostly located in the west and north of China, for example in the Shanxi and Hebei provinces. Plants of this size could provide large parts of Europe with electricity. It remains to be seen which plants and technologies for binding or storing CO2 will be developed in China by 2030 to reduce the emissions of new coal power plants.
What should the conference in October provide for both countries?
Kohse-Höinghaus: It should facilitate scientific interaction, sustain discussion channels, especially for young researchers. It’s not only an opportunity to talk about a breakthrough in area X, it’s also an opportunity to discuss joint approaches for the world issue of CO2 neutrality. Fuchs: We are working together in the hope that we can progress more quickly together, including on decarbonisation.
The interview was conducted by Christine Werner
