COP31 opens, China demonstrates climate governance responsibility with practical actions

China News Service, Antalya, November 11 (Reporters Wang Qingkai and Gong Hongyu) In Ethiopia, if you want to understand the subtle trends of climate change, a small satellite is working silently for you.

It is equipped with a multispectral wide-format camera, which can obtain multispectral remote sensing data in the fields of agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, disaster prevention and reduction, and support local climate research.

This satellite, donated free of charge by China in 2020, is one of the landmark achievements of South-South cooperation on climate change.

Climate change is a common issue that all mankind must work together to face. As extreme weather events intensify around the world, no country can remain immune to climate risks.

"No matter how the international situation changes, China will always be an activist and doer in addressing climate change."

From November 9th to 20th, the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Antalya, Türkiye. Huang Runqiu, Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said this at the "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" themed side meeting held during the period.

As a country with the largest population and industry in the world, China has also faced realistic pressures of heavy development tasks and a large carbon emission base. But China has never avoided the hard-to-answer question of carbon reduction.

Through continuous governance, technological research and mechanism exploration, China has achieved remarkable results in responding to climate change: from photovoltaics and wind power with the largest installed capacity in the world to new energy vehicles with the largest production and sales, from energy conservation in the thermal power industry to industrial waste gas treatment, the goal of carbon peak carbon neutrality is moving from "impossible" to reality step by step.

In the first half of 2026, the proportion of China's coal power generation fell below 50% for the first time, becoming a landmark node in the transformation of the energy structure. The "Global Energy Transformation Report (2026)" recently pointed out that China has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system.

Not only do we “reduce it ourselves”, but we also share the dividends of transformation with the world.

China has signed 60 memorandums of understanding on South-South cooperation in addressing climate change with 46 developing countries, donated various green and low-carbon products and equipment to developing countries, and implemented more than 300 capacity-building projects.

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China exported wind power and photovoltaic products, reducing carbon emissions for other countries by a total of approximately 4.1 billion tons. Currently, 70% of the world's wind power equipment and 80% of photovoltaic modules are provided by China. Cost-effective green production capacity gives many developing countries with limited funds the opportunity to access clean energy and accelerate the pace of energy transformation.

"Many people still don't really realize how much China has contributed to the global energy transition." New Zealand writer Eugene Doyle said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Sanlihe at COP31 that China is the "mature adult in the room" in climate action.

In addition to hardware support, China's climate cooperation concept also lies in making equipment truly operational and allowing capabilities to grow locally.

By carrying out foreign technical training, China helps developing countries build talent teams and establish independent climate response capabilities.

For example, during the delivery of the Ethiopian satellite, Egyptian experts also participated in the design and production. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy said that the launch of the satellite marked the beginning of a "historic moment" in Ethiopia's development of space science and technology.

In addition, we should innovate climate governance mechanisms and contribute Chinese wisdom to the improvement of global climate rules.

The Ecological and Environmental Code has set up a special chapter to address climate change, a carbon emission rights trading market has been established, and the national greenhouse gas emission factor database has been put into operation... A number of governance mechanisms that have grown out of China's practice provide positive reference for other countries to promote low-carbon transformation and improve global climate rules.

Addressing climate change is an uncompromising global undertaking.

However, looking back at the international climate process in recent years, individual countries have repeatedly "withdrew" on climate issues, causing repeated impacts on the multilateral mechanism. In contrast, China has always advocated unity and cooperation, sending a clear signal to the international community that multilateralism is unshakable and that the trend of green and low-carbon development is irreversible.

A comparison of a set of figures also reflects two completely different routes: In 2025, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions will increase by 0.4% year-on-year. Among them, China's energy-related carbon dioxide emissions fell by 0.5%, making it one of the few major economies to achieve a decline; while the United States' carbon emissions increased by 2.4% year-on-year, becoming the largest source of global carbon emissions growth.

Between one increase and one decrease, there are two choices. On the one hand, it is prone to swinging and "selective" performance of contracts, while on the other hand, it is down-to-earth and takes long-term action.

"We are all in the same boat, and we should shoulder the responsibilities and obligations of our respective cabins, and through each other's collective cooperation efforts, we can make the ship move forward smoothly and lead to a better common future." Wang Yi, deputy director of the National Climate Change Expert Committee, told Sanlihe.

During COP31, representatives from more than 190 countries around the world will negotiate on climate finance, just transition, and emission reduction actions. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, the Xi Jinping Ecological Civilization Thought Research Center and the China News Service hosted the "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" themed side event to invite Chinese and foreign guests to discuss climate governance and share green development exploration and practice.

China's position remains the same as before: it advocates unity and cooperation, fully participates in negotiations and consultations on various issues, speaks for developing countries, and boosts the confidence of all parties in advancing global climate governance through unity and cooperation.

The climate issue cannot wait for slogans and cannot find shortcuts. In the face of this big test related to the future of mankind, only action can turn challenges into opportunities and protect mankind's common home on earth.