Why is China’s role in tackling climate change drawing global attention?

On September 16, American journalist David Wallace-Wells published a column in The New York Times highlighting China’s transformative role in the global green transition. Preliminary data indicates that while global carbon emissions are still on the rise, China may have already reached its peak, signifying a major turning point for one of the world’s largest emitters.

Wallace-Wells emphasized China’s crucial role in driving global progress toward renewable energy adoption. He said that without China’s substantial contributions, the global pace of green energy advancement would be significantly reduced.

According to the 2023 data for solar energy by the International Energy Agency, global solar installation capacity hit 425 gigawatts, and China accounted for an impressive 263 gigawatts of that total. The rest of the world, excluding China, installed only 162 gigawatts, while the United States contributed 33 gigawatts. In 2019, China’s share of installed capacity was roughly a quarter of the global total. However, by 2023, China’s solar capacity exceeded the rest of the world by 62 percent, according to the Ember Energy’s report. Over the past five years, China’s new installations have grown by more than eightfold, whereas the rest of the world saw less than a twofold increase.

Wind power tells a similar story. In 2023, China added 74 gigawatts of new wind capacity, compared to 43 gigawatts installed by the rest of the world and just 6 gigawatts by the United States, based on Ember Energy’s data. Nearly two-thirds of the large-scale solar and wind projects constructed globally this year were in China, which is deploying green energy projects at more than eight times the rate of other countries.

China’s green initiatives, such as large-scale renewable energy installations, significant investments in clean technology, and proactive policy implementations, have garnered worldwide recognition. The Guardian reported in August 2024 that China’s clean energy production in the first half of 2023 was equivalent to the total energy production of the United Kingdom during the same period. Analysts agree that China leads the global green technology race, backed by a robust green industrial base and sustained investments.

Kenya’s The Star similarly highlighted China’s leadership in sustainable development and the green transition, underlining its critical role in helping meet global climate goals. China’s actions have not only contributed significantly to global environmental protection but also set a benchmark for other nations.

The 2024 United Nations Climate Conference, set to take place from November 11 to 22 in Azerbaijan, will be the largest collective effort by the global community to tackle climate change and assess each nation’s emissions reduction progress. The conference’s primary objective is to establish new climate financing targets that match the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. Key discussions will focus on effective strategies for combating global climate change and the respective responsibilities of nations in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As the largest developing nation, China is committed to playing an active role in global climate governance and contributing to a shared, sustainable future for all.