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SCIO press conference on 'Responding to Climate Change: China's Policies and Actions' white paper

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Sky News:

China burns more coal than the rest of the world combined. It's still adding to coal power. In the document released today, you said you will only gradually reduce that. At the same time, you are asking other countries to drastically reduce their emissions. How long will that peak of coal use last? Why is apparently China prioritizing short-term economic growth over the future of the planet? Secondly, we've heard about the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Will he be attending the COP26? If not, why not? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Whether President Xi Jinping will attend the COP26 will be answered by our diplomatic department. You asked about the consumption and development of coal. This issue is of great concern to the public. I would like to ask Mr. Sun to introduce some specific situations and our considerations.

Sun Zhen:

Thank you, Mr. Ye, and thanks for the questions. The questions are long. I think you are mainly concerned about some recent situations, while you also raised a question on the relationship between short-term and long-term development. I will answer them briefly here.

It should be noted that energy is the basic guarantee and basic condition for economic and social development and people's livelihoods. In the long run, it is also the driving force for the progress of human civilization. At the same time, for the future, if we want to achieve sustainable economic and social development, it is particularly urgent to achieve clean and low-carbon development in the field of energy. In recent years, China has vigorously promoted the adjustment, transformation and upgrading of its energy structure, shifting its energy production structure from coal-based to diversified, and its energy consumption structure has become increasingly low-carbon. In 2020, the proportion of China's coal consumption in the total energy consumption decreased from 72.4% in 2005 to 56.8%. Meanwhile, the consumption of non-fossil energy accounts for 15.9% of total energy consumption. China has vigorously promoted the development of renewable energy, and the installed capacity of renewable energy has increased rapidly, ranking first in the world. By the end of 2020, the total installed capacity of non-fossil energy power generation in China had reached 980 million kW, including 280 million kW of wind power and 250 million kW of photovoltaic power, ranking first in the world for 11 and six consecutive years, respectively.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in December 2020 that China will increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25%, and will bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kW. He also said on Sept. 21 this year that China will step up support for other developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. This fully demonstrates China's determination and courage to accelerate the adjustment of energy structure and build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. China will continue to control the growth of coal consumption, strengthen the development of renewable energy, accelerate the improvement of power system, and build a new power system suitable for a high proportion of renewable energy. Meanwhile, as the world's largest manufacturer of clean energy equipment, China will actively promote the development and utilization of clean energy, promote international cooperation around the world, and help developing countries accelerate the transformation of energy supply to an efficient, clean and diversified mode.

As a developing country, China is currently facing the arduous tasks of developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, and maintaining energy security. There are still many difficulties and challenges in adjusting the energy structure, which can not be addressed overnight. We will take a systematic approach to overall development; continue to prevent risks; properly handle the relationship between current and long-term development, and the relationship between pollution and carbon reduction and energy security, industrial and supply chains security and people's livelihoods; effectively deal with the risks that may occur during the green and low-carbon transformation; and ensure safe carbon reduction. Thank you.