Progress Made in Coping with Climate Change

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently released the 2022 report on China’s policies and actions in addressing climate change, detailing the country’s new arrangements in this aspect, efforts to slow down and adapt to climate change, improvements in policy and supporting networks, and participation in the global governance of climate change.

Over the last several years, China has made steady progress in promoting green energy, new-energy vehicles, environment-friendly industries, and lowcarbon development. In 2021, the output of China’s energy-saving and environmental protection industry exceeded RMB 8 trillion, with an annual growth rate of above 10 percent. The certification system for green products now covers nearly 90 categories, including building materials, courier packaging, electronic products, and plastic products.

China has improved its energy mix as well. By the end of 2021, its installed generation capacity for renewable energy had reached 1.06 billion kilowatts, accounting for 44 percent of its total installed power generation capacity. Presently, China has the world’s largest installed capacity for offshore wind power and the largest clean coal-based power system.

China has also increased the carbon absorption capacity of ecosystems by planting more trees, rehabilitating existing forests, controlling desertification, and recovering wetlands. Last year China’s CO2 emissions per unit of GDP fell by 3.8 percent from the 2020 level and 50.8 percent from the 2005 level, and the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption rose to 16.6 percent.