碳阻迹
2019-12 17
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China calls on developed countries to strengthen support for climate governance

Date:2019-12

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BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China called on developed countries to strengthen support for developing countries in climate governance, a spokesperson said Monday. The additional support should take public funds as a main source and be "commensurate with developing countries' actions," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press briefing. The COP 25 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change came to an end on Sunday after a two-day extension. China regretted that negotiators failed to reach an agreement on core issues, Geng said. Summarizing the results of the conference, Geng pointed out that different parties had prominent differences in their positions on climate governance and the sharing of responsibilities, and the already severe lack of support from developed nations to developing ones was increasing. "At the same time, in order to achieve the global goals set by the Paris Agreement after 2020, while filling existing shortfalls, developed countries need to first take concrete actions, formulate viable policy approaches and share them with developing countries," Geng said. Geng also noted the efforts China has made as the biggest developing country. Between 2005 and 2018, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 45.8 percent. With the largest investment in renewable energy of any country, China has 30 percent of the world's installed renewable energy capacity. China also has more than half of the world's electric cars. "To deal with climate change, the urgent task is to uphold multilateralism," Geng said, "and to implement the Paris Agreement on the basis of equity and in accordance with all parties' common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities." China will continue to push for the conclusion of the negotiations on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, improve the global climate governance system so that it is fair, equitable and mutually beneficial, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Geng said. Source: Xinhua Date: Dec. 17, 2018

2019-11 27
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China beats annual target for cutting carbon emissions in 2018

Date:2019-11

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BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) were down by about 4 percent in 2018, beating the annual target by 0.1 percentage points, an official said Wednesday. By 2018, China had slashed carbon intensity, or the amount of carbon emissions per unit of GDP, by 45.8 percent from 2005 levels, meeting the target of a 40 to 45 percent decrease by 2020 ahead of schedule, Zhao Yingmin, vice-minister of ecology and environment, told a press conference. The figure can be translated to 5.26 billion fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted since 2005. The share of non-fossil fuels in China's primary energy consumption stood at 14.3 percent at the end of last year, Zhao said. Power generated from renewable energy sources accounted for 26.7 percent of total power output in 2018, according to Zhao. "Tasked with missions like improving the people's livelihood and eradicating poverty, we will remain committed to addressing climate change and deliver on our promises 100 percent," said Zhao. China will staunchly uphold multilateralism in implementing the Paris Agreement, said Zhao, making the remarks before the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Source: Xinhua Date: Nov. 27,2019

2019-11 25
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China is the best implementer of climate change policy: experts

Date:2019-11

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“China is the best implementer of climate change policy. Period.” The remarks came from Eric Heitz, former CEO & co-founder of Energy Foundation and an awardee of 2014 China Friendship Award, at a conference in Beijing on Nov. 20, which was full of an atmosphere of congruity. “It is clear that China’s determination to fight climate change will not be shattered by flip-flops in the US government,” said former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the conference marking the 20th anniversary ceremony of Energy Foundation China, which continuously supports China’s policy and standard research, capacity building, and international cooperation in the energy, environment and climate fields, to achieve economic prosperity and climate safety. China, which is undergoing massive industrial development, is ramping up its environmental management to resolve the impasse of global governance on climate change issues. Guided by the conviction that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, China is now designing the 2050 Low Carbon Development Strategy to explore a sustainable way of coordinating development between economic construction, social progress, and environmental protection, said Xie Zhenhua, China’s Special Representative on Climate Change. Regarding energy conservation and emission reduction, China alone accounts for a quarter of the global net increase in leaf area since 2000 – despite containing only 6.3% of the world’s landmass, according to a recent study by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The result of effective afforestation is in line with the 45.8 % reduction of carbon dioxide emission per unit of GDP – a commitment signed by Chinese government in Paris. China reached its target two/three years ahead of schedule. Though China’s long-term GDP growth is slow yet stable, investment growth has rebounded from the lows in 2017, especially in the electric car industry, which has seen excellent performance. By 2017, the cumulative sales of new-energy vehicles reached 1.8 million in China, accounting for over 50% of the global cumulative sales figure, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed. Besides the new energy sector, in the next 15 to 20 years, at least $3 trillion will be required on infrastructure construction every year globally, according to Nicholas Stern, an economist at the London School of Economics. “Every department and every sector should be part of the sustainable development chain,” Stern said. “Innovation should directly serve the green development. I would recommend 10-20 green technologies for China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, which could generate both economic and social benefits in the short and medium term. Hopefully, the techniques can be promoted by both the Chinese government and overseas governments to together pragmatically bolster the green economy,” said Liu Shijin, China’s chief adviser to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. China is adamant to partake in global governance on resolving climate change, as long as the door of rational international cooperation is open. “China should act as their own pace … and should not be underscored by other forces and voice,” commented Todd Stern, former US chief negotiator at the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, on China’s international role as a contributor to the concern of climate change. “We are the first generation affected by climate change and the last generation to make a difference,” Rudd noted. Source: People's Daily Overseas New Media Author: Miao Wanyi Date: November 25, 2019

2019-11 16
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Over 70,000 Chinese citizens take part in low-carbon Military World Games

Date:2019-11

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WUHAN, China, Nov. 15 -- More than 70,000 citizens took part in a program called the low-Carbon Military World Games project, producing 100.23 tons of carbon reduction by donating "credits," thus offsetting the transportation-related carbon emissions caused by hosting the event. This is the first time for China to use reduction by individual citizens for this kind of big event carbon offset. Zhang Gao, Deputy Manager of China Hubei Emission Exchange, said that in the past, afforestation or other types of CCER would be priorities for the government to realize a carbon offset. However, during the Military World Games, the public also made contributions to the carbon offset by conducting low-carbon daily activities. Liu Qingqing, a citizen from Qingshan district of Wuhan, is a big fan of the low-Carbon Military World Games program. Whenever she goes shopping in the local chain store, she takes a reusable shopping bag along instead of buying a new plastic bag. By doing this, she achieved 20g reduction and obtained 20 carbon credits as rewards. Finally she donated 1000g reduction to Military World Games, claiming it was her honor to make this contribution for her city. Companies like City Smart Card, Hellobike, Bank of Communications and other enterprises were also invited to join in the project. Qi Shaozhou, Dean of Climate Change and Energy Economics Study Center of Wuhan University, told Xinhua that the volume of reduction produced by individuals is sufficient to offset the transportation-related carbon emissions during the Military World Games. Source: Xinhua Date: November 16, 2019

2019-11 14
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ADB secures 1st Green Climate Fund for China

Date:2019-11

View:14

MANILA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved on Thursday 100 million U.S. dollars in funding for an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project in eastern China's Shandong province that will showcase new ways to mobilize private, institutional and commercial financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Manila-based bank said this is the first GCF funding for China to establish the Shandong Green Development Fund (SGDF) and catalyze climate finance for a variety of climate sub-projects. The fund will apply GCF's Investment Framework and leverage transformational investments in Shandong with climate benefits, the ADB added. ADB approved 88.73 million euros (roughly 100 million U.S. dollars) of loans for the SGDF project on Sept. 26. It said a German banking group is providing additional co-financing while the French Development Agency will present the co-financing opportunity to its board for approval in December. According to the bank, the SGDF will function as the financial arm of the Shandong provincial government to support its ambitious climate change targets and attract private investors to climate change projects. "Many parts of China and other Asian countries face similar challenges to Shandong. We are confident that this project will have a strong demonstration value on how Asian economies can shift to a low-carbon and sustainable growth trajectory," ADB Director General for East Asia Amy Leung said. "The fund will pilot new ways to attract private sector funding and know-how that can be replicated elsewhere," she added. GCF, based in Songdo, South Korea, is a global fund created to support the efforts of developing countries to respond to the challenge of climate change. It was established in 2010 to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and regions, and catalyze a flow of climate finance to invest in low-emission and climate-resilient development. ADB has been an accredited entity of the GCF since 2015 and has received 10 funding approvals totaling 473 million U.S. dollars since then. Source: Xinhua Date:November 14, 2019