Solidarity and Real Action for Global Climate Governance

– Remarks at the Informal Leaders' Roundtable on Climate Action

H.E. Wang Yi, Special Representative of President Xi Jinping?and State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China

New York, September 21, 2022

Your Excellency Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Excellencies Heads of State and Government, Your Excellency Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,

It is a privilege to attend this roundtable on climate action. President Xi Jinping pointed out that everyone living on Earth is part of a big family and humanity is one community; and that climate change is a common challenge to all, and we humanity must come together to rise to that challenge. China believes that under the new circumstances, if we want to get closer to the goals of global climate governance, efforts should be made on the following four fronts:

First, we need to make the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el Sheikh (COP27) a success. We are confident that under President Sisi's chairmanship, COP27 will be a success and produce positive and balanced outcomes in such areas as climate mitigation, adaptation and finance.

Second, we need to prioritize implementation. It is important to follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and move faster to meet the temperature goals set out in the Paris Agreement. China supports the Early Warning System for All Initiative launched by Secretary-General Guterres. Developed countries need to make good on their promises to support developing countries with capital, technology and capacity-building.

Third, we need to promote a green transition. We cannot give up on such transition because of the temporary difficulties from COVID-19 to the energy crisis, nor should we lose sight of the reality and rush for quick results. Traditional energy should be gradually phased out on the basis of having safe and reliable new energies. A high-quality and fair transition should be advanced in the context of sustainable development.

Fourth, we need to foster a sound political atmosphere. In the face of global challenges, all parties should reject unilateralism, geopolitical rivalry and green barriers. Developed countries should significantly move up their timeline for carbon neutrality, and create more development space for developing countries, to rebuild trust between North and South with concrete actions.

Dear Friends,

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China is committed to a green and low-carbon path to development that prioritizes ecological conservation.

We have announced the targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, under which we will make the biggest reduction in carbon emission intensity in the world and move from carbon peaking to carbon neutrality in the shortest time span in world history.

We have unveiled more than 20 national policy documents, and drawn up implementation plans for carbon peaking at the sub-national level. The policy framework for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality has been put in place.

We have exceeded the climate action goals committed for the year 2020 and have put forth new nationally determined contributions.

We have worked steadily to adjust the energy mix. Today, China has the world's largest installed capacity and power generation from wind and solar power, and leads the world in the output and sales of new energy vehicles.

We have put CO2 emissions under strict control. As a result, CO2 emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 was 48.4% lower than that of 2005, and by 2030, it will be over 65% lower than that of 2005.

We have set up a national carbon market mechanism which has become the largest of its kind in terms of the volume of greenhouse gas emissions.

We have enhanced the capacity of our ecosystem to sequester carbon. China has seen the biggest rise in forest density and is home to the largest afforested area in the world. The size of China's newly-added green coverage accounts for one fourth of the global total, and we will strive to plant 70 billion more trees within the next 10 years.

We have engaged extensively in South-South cooperation on climate change, implemented the Global Development Initiative, and worked with all parties for a green Silk Road.

All these efforts show that having worked miracles in economic and social development, China is creating a new miracle in green transition. In following the Chinese path to modernization, China is committed to harmonious development between man and nature, and to building a community of life for man and nature. In this process, China will work with other countries around the world to support the UN in playing a central role and to practice true multilateralism. With each doing its level best and all working in solidarity and with real action, we will be able to protect our shared planet and leave a better world to future generations.

Thank you.