Nuclear energy vital for China: experts

An emphasis on developing nuclear energy can be crucial to addressing air pollution and climate change in China as the country's economy shifts from heavily industrial to more service-oriented, according to experts.

"In the years after 2020, China could overtake the United States and France as the largest nuclear-powered country. That is highly possible," Xiaojie Xu, chief fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Tuesday.

Like many experts, Xu believes the solution to climate change and air pollution is a decreased dependence on fossil fuels. But given China's current status, that will be no small task, Xu said.

"China is a big coal-user, and (is also) one of the biggest sources of a solution. That is the reality. We have to transform the energy-development patterns from heavy-industry dominant to a service-dominated one. This transition is a must."

Alternative sources of energy are needed as the country looks to limit carbon emissions.

Hui Zhang, senior research associate at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, said: "Nuclear power will play an important role, but it is only one piece of a huge puzzle, which means China also needs to develop other renewable energy, including hydropower and non-hydro renewable resources (wind, solar and other renewable energy)."

"As of January 2016, China has 30 power reactors (27 GWe (gigawatt electric) in operation with 24 units under construction (27 GWe). China leads the world in terms of the pace of nuclear development and new reactor construction. The country officially plans its total nuclear capacity to be 58 GWe by 2020 plus 30 GWe under construction," Zhang said.

"Nuclear energy is clean but cannot proceed alone because of its close ties with other types of non-fossil fuels," Xu said. "Synergic development has to be managed. In the short term, use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of coal is immediately required. In the long term, non-hydro renewables (wind and solar) are a must."

The Paris Agreement, drafted in December 2015, outlines commitments that signatory states must assume in their responsibility to the environment. China and more than 100 other nations' leaders will sign it on Earth Day, April 22.

Commitments addressed in the Paris Agreement include "Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels".

President Xi Jinping announced at the White House on Sept 25 during his US state visit last year China's plan to launch a national emissions trading system in 2017.

"Energy transition is a must, but uncertainties remain," Xu said. "Our expected transition will come with lower GDP growth, industrial reform and restructuring, and higher coal efficiency. This will all result in lower carbon emissions."

Allan Fong in Washington contributed to this story.