China's Eco-Friendly Growth Aids Worldwide Climate Efforts
China's commitment to green development plays a significant role in the global fight against climate change. The nation's advancements in sustainable practices and renewable energy initiatives are essential components of international efforts to combat environmental challenges. By focusing on ecological progress, China aims to not only improve its own environmental policies but also contribute positively to worldwide climate action.
TroibNews 
Recent years have seen unprecedented heatwaves around the globe, underscoring the reality of global warming as a pressing issue rather than a distant concern.
In this context, China has risen prominently as a leader in the global shift to renewable energy, demonstrating a strong commitment to green development and offering hope in the battle against climate change.
China is actively working to fulfill its pledge to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. As reported to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 50.9 percent in 2021 compared to 2005, which is the baseline year for the country’s climate commitments.
The nation is also experiencing significant ecological growth. By 2023, China's forest coverage rate reached 25 percent, with forest stock surpassing 20 billion cubic meters. Additionally, China's forests and grasslands contribute an annual carbon-sink capacity of over 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, making the country a leader in this domain.
Renewable energy development in China is breaking new records, with the first three quarters of 2024 seeing more than 200 million kilowatts of new renewable energy capacity installed, which constitutes more than 80 percent of the total new capacity. According to the World Energy Outlook 2024, China was responsible for 60 percent of the global increase in renewable capacity in 2023.
In terms of clean energy's share, it represented 39.7 percent of China's total power generation in 2023, an increase of around 15 percentage points since 2013, as noted in the white paper titled "China's Energy Transition" issued in 2024.
China is also making strides in reducing energy intensity, achieving a 26 percent decrease since 2012. The nation has led global production and sales of new energy vehicles for a decade.
Beyond domestic gains, China is assisting other nations in pursuing green growth and bolstering their ability to adapt to climate change. The country has a history of supporting clean energy and environmental projects in developing regions.
For example, the China-Ethiopia-Sri Lanka Renewable Energy Technology Transfer Project has seen the implementation of 11 green energy solutions across 12 small and medium-sized demonstration sites, benefitting over 50,000 people in Sri Lanka and Ethiopia. These installations are expected to produce a minimum of 70,000 kWh of energy annually, preventing approximately 157,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Clean energy initiatives funded by China are also flourishing in Kazakhstan and Mali. The Zhanatas Wind Farm in Kazakhstan produces 350 million kWh of clean electricity annually, which equates to conserving 109,500 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon emissions by 289,000 tonnes each year.
Similarly, the Gouina Hydropower Station in Mali, which began operations in 2022, has made significant changes to the energy framework in West Africa. Generating 687 million kWh annually, it supplies power for 1 million residents across Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, displacing 240,000 tonnes of coal and leading to a reduction of 630,000 tonnes of carbon emissions yearly.
China boasts the world's most extensive and complete new-energy industrial chain, producing 70 percent of the global photovoltaic components and 60 percent of wind power equipment. In 2023, exports of wind and photovoltaic products from China helped cut carbon emissions by 810 million tonnes in the recipient countries.
Regardless of shifts in the international arena, China's resolve to engage in proactive climate action remains unchanged.
It was one of the early signatories and ratifiers of the Paris Agreement and is among the original parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
From 2016 to 2023, China provided approximately $24.5 billion in climate-related funding to support developing countries.
Throughout the years, China has been a staunch advocate for a fairer global climate governance system. Within the Belt and Road Initiative framework, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN Environment Programme aimed at establishing a green Belt and Road from 2017 to 2022, launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development with 31 nations, and created the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition consisting of over 150 partners from more than 40 countries.
As of October 2024, China had signed 53 memoranda of understanding on South-South cooperation focused on climate change with 42 developing nations and executed nearly 100 projects centered on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Furthermore, it has conducted over 300 capacity-building programs in climate-related fields, providing training opportunities for more than 10,000 participants from over 120 developing countries.
With climate change and green development identified as two of its eight priority areas, China's Global Development Initiative continues to gain traction among an increasing number of countries and regions. The initiative has established over 30 cooperation platforms and launched more than 1,100 projects, addressing all 17 of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
In this context, China has risen prominently as a leader in the global shift to renewable energy, demonstrating a strong commitment to green development and offering hope in the battle against climate change.
China is actively working to fulfill its pledge to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. As reported to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 50.9 percent in 2021 compared to 2005, which is the baseline year for the country’s climate commitments.
The nation is also experiencing significant ecological growth. By 2023, China's forest coverage rate reached 25 percent, with forest stock surpassing 20 billion cubic meters. Additionally, China's forests and grasslands contribute an annual carbon-sink capacity of over 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, making the country a leader in this domain.
Renewable energy development in China is breaking new records, with the first three quarters of 2024 seeing more than 200 million kilowatts of new renewable energy capacity installed, which constitutes more than 80 percent of the total new capacity. According to the World Energy Outlook 2024, China was responsible for 60 percent of the global increase in renewable capacity in 2023.
In terms of clean energy's share, it represented 39.7 percent of China's total power generation in 2023, an increase of around 15 percentage points since 2013, as noted in the white paper titled "China's Energy Transition" issued in 2024.
China is also making strides in reducing energy intensity, achieving a 26 percent decrease since 2012. The nation has led global production and sales of new energy vehicles for a decade.
Beyond domestic gains, China is assisting other nations in pursuing green growth and bolstering their ability to adapt to climate change. The country has a history of supporting clean energy and environmental projects in developing regions.
For example, the China-Ethiopia-Sri Lanka Renewable Energy Technology Transfer Project has seen the implementation of 11 green energy solutions across 12 small and medium-sized demonstration sites, benefitting over 50,000 people in Sri Lanka and Ethiopia. These installations are expected to produce a minimum of 70,000 kWh of energy annually, preventing approximately 157,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Clean energy initiatives funded by China are also flourishing in Kazakhstan and Mali. The Zhanatas Wind Farm in Kazakhstan produces 350 million kWh of clean electricity annually, which equates to conserving 109,500 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon emissions by 289,000 tonnes each year.
Similarly, the Gouina Hydropower Station in Mali, which began operations in 2022, has made significant changes to the energy framework in West Africa. Generating 687 million kWh annually, it supplies power for 1 million residents across Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, displacing 240,000 tonnes of coal and leading to a reduction of 630,000 tonnes of carbon emissions yearly.
China boasts the world's most extensive and complete new-energy industrial chain, producing 70 percent of the global photovoltaic components and 60 percent of wind power equipment. In 2023, exports of wind and photovoltaic products from China helped cut carbon emissions by 810 million tonnes in the recipient countries.
Regardless of shifts in the international arena, China's resolve to engage in proactive climate action remains unchanged.
It was one of the early signatories and ratifiers of the Paris Agreement and is among the original parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
From 2016 to 2023, China provided approximately $24.5 billion in climate-related funding to support developing countries.
Throughout the years, China has been a staunch advocate for a fairer global climate governance system. Within the Belt and Road Initiative framework, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN Environment Programme aimed at establishing a green Belt and Road from 2017 to 2022, launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development with 31 nations, and created the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition consisting of over 150 partners from more than 40 countries.
As of October 2024, China had signed 53 memoranda of understanding on South-South cooperation focused on climate change with 42 developing nations and executed nearly 100 projects centered on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Furthermore, it has conducted over 300 capacity-building programs in climate-related fields, providing training opportunities for more than 10,000 participants from over 120 developing countries.
With climate change and green development identified as two of its eight priority areas, China's Global Development Initiative continues to gain traction among an increasing number of countries and regions. The initiative has established over 30 cooperation platforms and launched more than 1,100 projects, addressing all 17 of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
