BEIJING – China will strictly control coal-fired power generation projects and limit the increase in coal consumption over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), President Xi Jinping said on Thursday while addressing the Leaders Summit on Climate via video link from Beijing.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will phase down coal consumption, Xi said, reiterating the country's commitment to peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and realizing carbon neutrality before 2060.
Noting that a national carbon market will start trading, Xi reiterated the country's commitment to peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and realizing carbon neutrality before 2060
China has decided to accept the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and tighten regulations over non-carbon dioxide emissions, Xi noted, adding that a national carbon market will start trading.
Stressing the targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality have been added to China's overall plan for ecological conservation, Xi said the country is making an action plan and taking strong nationwide actions toward carbon peak.
Support is being given to peaking pioneers from localities, sectors and companies, Xi said.
Community of life for man, nature
While addressing the summit, Xi also called for unprecedented ambition and action to build a community of life for man and nature.
He said China will continue to prioritize ecological conservation and pursue a green and low-carbon development path.
Making a six-point proposal, Xi said to build a community of life for man and nature, we must be committed to harmony between man and nature, green development, systemic governance, a people-centered approach, multilateralism, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
It requires "extraordinarily hard efforts" for China to fulfill its commitment to moving from carbon peak to carbon neutrality, which is in a much shorter time span than what might take many developed countries, the president said.
Xi said China looks forward to working with the international community, including the United States, to jointly advance global environmental governance
In his remarks, Xi said China welcomes the returning of the United States to the multilateral governance on climate change.
Noting that not long ago, the Chinese and US sides released a Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis, Xi said that China looks forward to working with the international community, including the United States, to jointly advance global environmental governance.
Social equity, justice
He urged global efforts to deliver social equity and justice in the cause of green transition, and said countries should honor their promises on addressing climate change instead of breaking their vows.
The environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries, Xi noted.
"We need to take into full account people's longing for a better life and a good environment as well as our responsibility for future generations," he said.
"We need to look for ways to protect the environment, grow the economy, create jobs and remove poverty all at the same time, so as to deliver social equity and justice in the course of green transition and increase people's sense of benefit, happiness and security," Xi said.
China, as a participant, contributor and trailblazer in global ecological conservation, is firmly committed to putting multilateralism into action and promoting a fair and equitable system of global environmental governance for win-win cooperation, Xi said.
Support developing countries
Xi said developed countries should make concrete efforts to help developing countries improve their abilities to cope with climate change.
Noting that green mountains are gold mountains, Xi said that to protect the environment is to protect productivity, and to improve the environment is to boost productivity
Developed countries need to increase climate ambition and action, and support developing countries in financing, technology, and capacity building, Xi said.
He called on developed countries to refrain from creating green trade barriers, so as to help developing countries accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon development.
'Protect productivity'
Noting that green mountains are gold mountains, Xi said that to protect the environment is to protect productivity, and to improve the environment is to boost productivity.
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"We must abandon development models that harm or undermine the environment, and must say no to shortsighted approaches of going after near-term development gains at the expense of the environment," Xi said.
Xi also called for joint efforts to make sure that a sound environment is there to buttress sustainable economic and social development worldwide.
He also warned against fragmented and palliative approaches in conserving ecological environment, and said China regards cooperation in the field of ecological progress as a key area for the joint building of the Belt and Road.