COP29 showcases China’s progress in green transition

As the COP29 enters its second week in Baku, Azerbaijan, China's commitment to emission reduction and global cooperation in the joint response to climate change has been in the spotlight, including the establishment of the world's largest and most complete new-energy industry chain and 177 billion yuan ($24.5 billion) of funding for Global South projects.

COP29 attendee Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, shared with the Global Times on Sunday his belief that China's efforts and achievements in clean energy and the green transition impressed the audience at the event. 

China has provided and mobilized more than 177 billion yuan of project funds since 2016 in support of other developing countries' climate response, the Xinhua News Agency reported. It is the first time that China provided a concrete assessment of its contribution to climate finance in Global South cooperation, thepaper.cn reported on Sunday, citing the Chinese delegation to COP29.  

Wen Hua, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a China Pavilion sideline event on Friday that China has established the world's most systematic and comprehensive carbon reduction policy system, with significant progress in the energy transition. 

The total installed capacity of wind and solar power has achieved the internationally committed target more than six years ahead of schedule. China has optimized and upgraded its industrial structure, building the world's largest and most complete new-energy industrial chain, Wen said.

 Wen also listed numbers - the green building area accounts for more than 90 percent of newly constructed buildings in urban areas and the annual production of new-energy vehicles is set to surpass 10 million in 2024 - in his discussion of China's green transition. 

A session at the China Pavilion on Saturday (local time) on how digital technology can help monitor and process data and calculate carbon sinks intrigued the public. "It is a new area where China is taking a lead. China, with its green capacity and technological innovation, can facilitate global efforts to better cope with climate change," Ma said.

However, these achievements are made through endeavors and China also faces the challenge of phasing out fossil energy, coal in particular, and balancing development and emission reduction, Ma said, making the point that it is unfair to keep pushing China's actions while turning a blind eye to the real disruptor of climate cooperation. 

Xin Qiang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University, told the Global Times that developed countries have failed to fulfill their financial promises, and the US could quit again.

However, some countries don't dare to criticize the US for fear of repercussions, while adding tasks to China's to-do list instead, he said. Such a hypocritical way of showing that they care about climate change has the strategic purpose of smearing China's image, as fellow developing countries highly recognize China's leadership in this field, Xin said.