China Education Television:

How will the energy authorities promote green and low-carbon energy development firmly based on the basic national conditions and energy resource endowment to support the realization of the "dual carbon" goals of peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality as scheduled?

Ren Jingdong:

I'm glad to answer the last question. Achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality as scheduled is a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Your question is very important. Are we committed to peak carbon emissions and neutrality based on others' demands? I think the general secretary and the CPC Central Committee have given an answer. Achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality is critical to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and building a community with a shared future for mankind. This is not a task we're asked to fulfill but one we are proactive in delivering. Through energy development, security should be ensured and transformation should be advanced. Under the guidance of the new development philosophy, China's green and low-carbon energy transformation has been accelerating, with the quality and efficiency of development significantly improved. In the past decade, we have supported an average annual economic growth of 6.6% with an average annual energy consumption growth rate of 3%, with the energy consumption per unit of GDP decreasing by 26.4%. We have explored a green and low-carbon path to high-quality development that gives priority to ecological conservation. We have seen greater achievement on this path and have become more confident and determined along the way. Due to the time limit, I will briefly introduce three aspects:

First, non-fossil energy has maintained the momentum of leapfrog development. The total installed capacity of renewable power has exceeded 1.1 billion kilowatts, nearly four times the amount of a decade ago, accounting for more than 30% of the world's total. The installed capacities of hydropower, wind power, photovoltaic and biomass power, as well as nuclear power under construction, have maintained the first place in the world. Last year, non-fossil energy consumption accounted for 16.6% of China's energy consumption, up 6.9 percentage points from 2012 and nearly a quarter of the world's total.

Second, remarkable progress has been made in the clean and efficient use of fossil energy. The proportion of coal consumption has dropped to 56%, down 12.5 percentage points from 2012 and down 1.4 percentage points on average annually in the past decade, the fastest decline in history. Projects have been launched to upgrade coal-fired power plants to achieve ultra-low emissions and energy conservation. More than 90% of coal-fired power plants have reached an emission level comparable to that of natural gas power generation. The quality of refined oil products has been continuously upgraded, and the quality of motor gasoline and diesel has been comprehensively raised and met the National-VI emission standards, reaching the world's most advanced level.

Third, scientific and technological innovation is playing a bigger driving role. Several world-leading strategic projects, such as the Baihetan hydropower station and the Hualong One reactor, have been completed and put into operation. A complete industrial chain of equipment manufacturing for clean energy, such as hydropower, nuclear power, wind power and solar power, has been formed. China has also built the world's largest network of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen refuelling stations.

Going forward, in accordance with the requirements of the 20th CPC National Congress and based on China's energy resource endowment, we will follow the principle of establishing a new system before abolishing the old one, deepen the energy revolution, accelerate the planning and construction of a new energy system, and unswervingly promote green and low-carbon energy development.

To be specific, our focuses include the following respects. We will strengthen the clean and efficient use of coal and actively upgrade coal-fired power plants to conserve resources, reduce carbon emissions, make operations more flexible, and upgrade heating facilities. We plan to upgrade a total of about 600 million kilowatts during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). We will steadily promote the demonstration and application of CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) technology. We will vigorously develop non-fossil energy, and energetically promote the high-quality development of wind and solar power. We will advance the construction of major hydropower and nuclear power projects and generate biomass, geothermal, and other renewable energy in light of local conditions. The grid will be developed actively to cope with the development of large-scale centralized new energy and distributed energy in large quantities and in a wide range of areas. We will vigorously promote transforming and upgrading end-use energy consumption, strengthen energy conservation and carbon emission reduction in key energy use areas, actively advance the replacement by electric power, and strive to make electric power account for 30% of energy consumption by end users by 2025.

Finally, while doing our own things well, we should earnestly implement the Global Development Initiative, actively participate in global governance on climate change, constantly advance the global clean energy cooperation partnership, and fully contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Today's press conference is now concluded. Thanks to the three delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress and our friends from the press. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Wang Yiming, Wang Wei, Lin Liyao, Zhou Jing, Zhang Rui, He Shan, Zhang Lulu, Wang Yanfang, Zhou Jing, Zhang Tingting, Huang Shan, Xu Kailin, Li Huiru, Duan Yaying, Zhang Jiaqi, Ma Yujia, Zhang Junmian, Cui Can, Liu Sitong, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Tom Arnsten. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.

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