Working Together To Combat Climate Change

In the face of the threats from the global climate change, China has announced ambitious carbon-reduction commitments. At the Leaders Summit on Climate held online on April 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China will move from carbon peak to carbon neutrality within 30 years, a much shorter time span than 50 to 70 years that developed countries might take to achieve the goal.

That means China needs to herald a great “green revolution” to complete the arduous transition to carbon peak and then carbon neutrality. The mission presents both challenges and opportunities. It is time for China to change its fossil fuel-dominated energy production and consumption structures, and greatly increase production of clean energy like solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy and tidal energy.

China not only talks the talk, but also walks the talk. It has established a complete production chain for manufacturing clean energy equipment. As the world’s largest clean energy market and clean energy equipment manufacturer, China has clean energy projects in many countries worldwide and provides more than 70 percent of the components for photovoltaic industry around the world. Widespread utilization and affordable access to clean energy equipment can further encourage countries to switch to clean energy, accelerating transformation of the global energy structure.

Climate change mitigation requires efforts from all countries. While promoting industrialization, African countries are actively engaged in green energy transformation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Improving African countries’ capacity in coping with climate change and realizing sustainable development is one of the important goals listed in the African Union Agenda 2063.

In this respect, China and African countries are joining hands to transition to low-carbon development. According to International Energy Agency data in 2019, China is building power generation projects in 24 Sub-saharan African countries. Most of the 49 projects that are expected to be completed before 2024 are renewable energy projects.

To further facilitate new energy cooperation between China and African countries, the Chinaafrica Environmental Cooperation Center was set up in November 2020, which is a milestone in Sino-african cooperation on reducing carbon emissions. The center will implement the China-africa Green Envoy Program and Chinaafrica Green Innovation Plan, which will boost the global fight against climate change.

Climate change is the common enemy of all human kind. During the process of combating climate change, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should be respected. As suggested by President Xi, developed countries need to make concrete efforts to help developing countries strengthen the capacity and resilience against climate change. CA