Speech by Ambassador Fu Cong at the European Climate
Stocktake Event
(14:00, 27 October 2023, Charlemagne)
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon! It gives me great pleasure to attend the European Climate Stocktake event as one of the representatives of key partner countries. With COP28 coming up in just one month time, it is very timely that we get together today to discuss and explore how to better deal with climate change.
As we all know, climate change has become an imminent threat to humanity. The urgency for taking global actions is increasing and it is now a global consensus to promote green, low-carbon and sustainable development. At the same time, with the world reeling from military confilicts, slowing economic growth, rising inflation, energy and food shortages, and the disruption of supply chains, some countries are backpedaling in their environmental policies. As a responsible developing country, China always attaches great importance to the challenge of climate change and strives to build a fair, equitable and mutually-beneficial system of global climate governance. We have made great contributions to global climate cooperation. Here, let me share with you what China has done and achieved in response to climate change.
As President Xi Jinping reiterated, addressing climate change is not at others’ request but on China’s own initiative. It is what China needs to do to achieve sustainable development at home, and fulfill its responsibility to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Promoting harmony between man and nature is a unique feature of the Chinese modernization. We faithfully fufill our obligations under the UNFCCC and implement a proactive national strategy on climate change. In 2020, President Xi Jinping declared that China will aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Since then, China has set up a “1+N” policy system and adopted ten major actions to better support the transition to a green and low-carbon future in economic and social development. China is a developing country with 1.4 billion population, facing difficult challenges in terms of economic development, improvement of people’s livelihood, pollution prevention and environmental protection. Despite all these difficulties, China has honored its words with concrete actions and made notable progress on combating climate change.
On the domestic front, first, we are prioritizing the development of non-fossil fuels. The carbon intensity in 2021 dropped by 50.8 percent from the 2005 level. The installed power generation capacity of renewable energy exceeded the coal-fired power generation at the end of 2022, accounting for more than half of the new installed capacity. By supplying 50 percent of the wind power equipment and 80 percent of the photovoltaic module equipment to the world, China has contributed to the decline of global renewable energy costs significantly. Second, we are actively promoting the carbon market. China has launched the online trading of the world’s largest carbon market covering over 5 billion tons of CO2 emissions every year. Third, we are adjusting our industrial mix on a large scale by eliminating 300 million tons of iron and steel capactity and 400 million tons of cement capacity over the past decade. Fourth, we are transforming the construction and transportation sectors. In 2022, the share of newly-built green buildings exceeded 90 percent, the share of new energy vehicles accounted for more than half the world’s total, and the amount of charging infrastructure increased by 100 percent year-on-year. Fifth, we are taking measures to increase carbon sink capacity of ecosystems. At a time when the global forest resources are decreasing, China has contributed a quarter of the newly added green space in the world. Sixth, we are focusing on both mitigation and adaptation efforts. By publishing the National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation 2035, China has put forward the main targets of its climate change adaptation work.
On the international front, China is taking a constructive part in the multilateral process and accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement. To advance South-South cooperation on climate change, China has signed 48 cooperation documents with 40 developing countries and carried out over 70 mitigation and adaptation projects. We strive to build a Green Silk Road in joint efforts with partners to tackle climate change and empower green development. At the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held last week, President Xi Jinping announced a number of measures to promote green development. He said that China will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, green energy and green transportation, and step up support for the BRI International Green Development Coalition. China will continue to hold the BRI Green Innovation Conference, and establish dialogue and exchange mechanisms for the solar industry and a network of experts on green and low-carbon development. China will also implement the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road, and provide 100,000 training opportunities for partner countries by 2030. At the forum, China also joined other stakeholders in launching the Beijing Initiative for Belt and Road Green Development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year marks a crucial turning point for global climate governance. The first-ever Global Stocktake is scheduled to take place at COP28 later this year. The international community has high expectations, and hopes to see positive outcomes and substantial progress. To advance global climate governance and promote green and low-carbon transition, the international community needs to uphold multilateralism and takes steps in the following areas:
First, we need to enhance political mutual trust and stay on the track of cooperation. Global climate governance does not happen in a vacuum. One should not seek geopolitical confrontation on the one hand and ask for unconditional cooperation on the other. It’s important that all parties work in the same direction and stay alert to the politicization and instrumentalization of climate issues, so as to foster a favorable political atmosphere for bilateral and multilateral climate cooperation, and ensure sustained global climate actions.
Second, we need to embrace a more rational perception and pursue a just transition. Facing the threat of climate change, developed countries have better abilities and should live up to their historical responsibilities. Developing countries, however, still face multiple challenges such as economic development, people’s livelihood and pollution prevention. Given the size of the population and different levels of development, it is important to appreciate and understand the risks developing countries face in the green transition and why they want to move ahead both actively and prudently. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity, and respective capabilities, as well as to ensure climate actions are commensurate with the support. Developed nations need to provide adequate and accessible financial and technical assistance as well as capacity-building support, in order to help developing countries realize a just transition.
Third, we need to honor commitments and take concerted actions. Climate crisis cannot be addressed by slogans or unsubstantiated ambitions or a one-size-fits-all approach. It can only be dealt with by working in solidarity and taking concrete actions. In this respect, advanced economies should respond to the long-standing concerns of developing countries and deliver on their commitment by mobilizing 100 billion US dollars every year before COP28. We also hope to see progress to be made when it comes to adopting a detailed and explicit roadmap on how to double climate finance for adaptation, defining the Global Goal on Adaptation Framework at COP28, and designing the Loss and Damage Fund.
Fourth, we need to pursue mutual benefits and resist protectionism. The EU’s decision to launch an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles from China is unfair and regrettable. There are also reports that Chinese PV products and wind turbines may also be targeted. It needs to be pointed out that the good momentum in the global green and low-carbon transition has not come easily, and therefore, the forming of exclusive blocs and unilateral and protectionist measures must be avoided, and attempts to decouple or de-risk, which threatens global supply chains, must be rejected, so as not to jeopardize global cooperation on climate change. When it comes to green development, the right thing to do is to work in solidarity and seek mutual benefits. In doing so, we will be able to inject more positive energy and more certainty into the global fight against climate change.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to conclude by emphasizing that China will continue to lead by example in fighting climate change and promoting green and low-carbon development. We stand ready to join all stakeholders including the EU in improving global climate governance and building a green and low-carbon world.
Thank you!