Solar panels on rooftops are seen at Baofeng county, Pingdingshan in Henan province, China, on Aug 3, 2022. (PHOTO / VCG)
Climate change is a prominent global challenge that concerns the common interests of the international community, Zhai Qing, vice-minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at a news conference on Friday on the sidelines of the ongoing 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
We have released a national strategy to adapt to climate change and have continued to carry out pilot projects to build cities that can adapt to climate change
Zhai Qing, Vice-minister of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment
He said China has made climate change adaptation a major strategy of the nation's development.
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In 2020, China's carbon emission intensity dropped by 48.4 percent from that in 2005, exceeding the commitments made to the international community, said Zhai.
Last year, the proportion of coal in China's total energy consumption fell to 56 percent from 72.4 percent in 2005, he said.
Last year, the installed capacity of wind, solar, water and biomass power generation ranked first in the world.
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"We have released a national strategy to adapt to climate change and have continued to carry out pilot projects to build cities that can adapt to climate change," he said.
Building green Belt and Road
Zhai also said that positive progress has been made in promoting the green development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
An international coalition for the Belt and Road green development has been established, which currently has more than 150 partners from over 40 countries, said Zhai.
The coalition has worked to strengthen policy dialogues and joint research, and support the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he added.
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Efforts have been made to improve the innovation and exchanges of green technologies and cultivate talent in environmental management.
"We have trained about 3,000 environmental management personnel, experts and scholars from more than 120 countries, building consensus and synergy for green development," Zhai said.
Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative envisions trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.