The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is being held in Antalya, Türkiye. During the conference, the side event with the theme of "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" in China Corner attracted many foreign guests. In addition to admiration, they are more concerned about another issue: how to learn from China’s green transformation experience.
The side event was guided by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, hosted by the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization Research Center and China News Service, and co-organized by the Environmental and Economic Policy Research Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and China News Network. This is the first time that China News Agency’s “News Living Room” has held a series of activities in Türkiye.
Chinese and foreign guests shared and had conversations around typical cases of building a beautiful China, systematically presenting China's exploration and practical experience in green development from the dimensions of ecological cooperation, local watershed governance, industrial green transformation, and public ecological education.
Green changes have quietly taken place in China, and the details are groups of verifiable facts: after the ten-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River was implemented, finless porpoises reappeared in the eyes of residents along the river; China has completed ultra-low emission transformation of 1.17 billion kilowatt coal-fired power plants and 1 billion tons of crude steel production capacity. It is the world's largest industrial cleanup transformation. As the COP15 chair, China has promoted the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework". The Kunming Biodiversity Fund has funded two batches of 31 projects, benefiting 45 countries.
"This is a good meeting that gives us the opportunity to learn about China's experience and future plans in green transformation." Vita Matso, director of the Energy Integration and Biofuels Department of Angola's National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Administration, told a reporter from China News Service that China's green transformation experience is worth learning, which is why he came to listen to the meeting.
"I think this year's side event was very good." Stuart Maginnis, deputy director-general of the World Conservation Union, said that it is sometimes difficult for people outside China to understand the great changes that have taken place in China over the past 40 years. Through this side event, more people can understand China's practices.
The attention paid to this side event is related to the context of this conference. This year is the first year of a new decade of implementation of the Paris Agreement. The host Turkey has positioned COP31 as an “implemented COP” – whether commitments can be turned into actions is the core issue of the Antalya meeting. The judgment of the United Nations Environment Program's "2026 Emissions Gap Report" is not easy: the 1.5°C temperature control target will be exceeded. If current policies are continued, global warming may reach 2.8°C by the end of this century. When the gap between goals and actions is repeatedly discussed, a transformation example that has been completed becomes particularly concrete.
Over the years, China has made many achievements in addressing climate change. China's wind power and photovoltaic installed capacity has exceeded 2 billion kilowatts, accounting for about half of the world. Photovoltaic power generation has surpassed coal power and has become the largest power source. New energy vehicle production and sales have ranked first in the world for 11 consecutive years. In accordance with China's "dual carbon" goals, carbon dioxide emissions strive to peak before 2030 and strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
Foreign guests attending the meeting said that China's practical exploration in the field of ecological civilization construction has important reference significance and provides a useful reference for global sustainable development. All parties look forward to taking this side event as an opportunity to further expand communication channels and deepen practical cooperation.
Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, spoke highly of China's green transformation practices based on his experiences from many visits to China. He said that China has long firmly upheld multilateralism and continued to participate in the overall undertaking of the United Nations, especially the work of the United Nations in response to climate change, which has effectively promoted the advancement of global climate governance. “China’s energy transformation achievements are unique in the world.”
"China's continued progress in ecological civilization construction and planetary planning every year is remarkable. We are deeply proud to be able to work closely with China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment and other relevant departments to jointly promote the formulation of ecological and environmental regulations. We look forward to further strengthening cooperation in the future." Laura Clark, CEO of Kleins European Environmental Protection Association, told China News Service.
According to the agenda of the conference, China Corner will also hold more than 40 themed side events and special activities during the conference. For many participants, what China Corner brings out is not new goals, but practices that have already happened and can be seen and asked about.
