China is a global leader in green energy. Last month, the National Energy Administration published a white paper on the country's energy transition. The document details China's commitment to stable supply chains in the sector as well as its efforts to push for low-carbon reforms. CGTN's Dong Xue sat down with the deputy director of the body in charge of the paper to learn more about Chinese efforts in the sector.
A recent white paper detailing China's green energy transition says investment reached nearly 680 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, making it the world's top investor in the field. China has also made huge progress in the sector over the past decade. Historic breakthroughs in green and low-carbon energy development have been achieved, with nuclear power the most important.
DONG XUE Beijing "What role could nuclear power play in China's energy transformation?"
WAN JINSONG Deputy Director, National Energy Administration "In the first half of this year, the total national generation of nuclear power reached over 200 billion kilowatts-an-hour, saving about 64 million tons of standard coal emissions, and a reduction of 170 million tons of carbon dioxide. In recent years, Chinese nuclear power has become an important source of support in eastern coastal areas, making up 20 percent of the total power supply in cities like Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong. China has also established a complete industrial chain for the manufacturing of nuclear power equipment, and has become one of the few countries in the world with a complete industrial system in the sector."
By providing high-quality clean energy products and services to the world, Wan Jinsong says China has enriched global supply chains and played an important role in helping more countries across the world gain access to renewable energy.
DONG XUE Beijing "What do you make of China's contributions?"
WAN JINSONG Deputy Director, National Energy Administration "China has actively responded to climate change and declared to the world the goal of reaching carbon neutrality, which is also our goal in terms of promoting the green and low-carbon energy transformation. In the past decade, China's annual installed capacity of renewable energy accounts for more than 40 percent of the world's total. In 2023 alone, China's solar energy investment is 220 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for about half of the world's total in the past decade."
Speaking at the conference earlier, officials pledged that the dual carbon target, namely to reach peak carbon by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, will remain unchanged.
DONG XUE, CGTN, BEIJING.
