Beijing (TDI): With the West’s wavering commitment casting a gloom over international climate governance, China’s closely watched government work report has sent a reassuring message that the world’s second-largest economy will continue pursuing its low-carbon cause.
The work report, which Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered to the national legislature on Wednesday, set the 2025 goal of achieving a drop of around 3% in energy consumption per unit of GDP.
It also outlines more steps to realize China’s dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality before 2060.
Among the new initiatives are accelerating the construction of new energy bases in deserts, the Gobi and other arid areas, and developing offshore wind farms.
China’s arid northwest and windy coastal regions have in recent years emerged as clean energy hubs, with burgeoning solar and wind farms.
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The work report also noted that China plans to set up a group of zero-carbon industrial parks and factories, and to expand the China Carbon Emission Trade Exchange to cover more sectors.
Low-carbon upgrade trials will also be initiated in coal-fired power plants.
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China will actively engage in and steer international environmental and climate governance, the premier said when delivering the work report.
The policy package is the latest in a series of climate commitments the country has made amid growing concerns over the United States’ withdrawal for the second time from the Paris climate agreement.
