BEIJING: China will step up its support for other developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. President Xi Jinping made the announcement at the general debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 21. These new commitments once again prove that China is serious about addressing climate change, according to Shakeel Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development. “China doesn’t only talk. It also delivers,” he said.
One year ago, Xi said, while addressing the general debate of the 75th UN General Assembly, that China aims to have its carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. From then on, China has demonstrated unprecedented powers to take action, according to a report released at a webinar hosted by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China and China International Publishing Group (CIPG) on September 22. The report, Carbon Neutrality: China in Action, was compiled by think tanks including the Chongyang Institute and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under CIPG.
Currently, more than 130 countries have set goals to reach carbon neutrality by the middle of this century. Former Slovenian President Danilo Türk said despite China being the world’s largest developing country, its pledge constitutes the shortest interval between carbon peak and carbon neutrality of any commitment made by any country thus far.
Last year, China’s investment in renewable energy projects, including solar, wind and hydro power, accounted for about 57 percent of its overall energy-related investment, according to statistics compiled by the Green Belt and Road Initiative Center.
– The Daily Mail-Beijing Review News exchange item
