China to synergize reduction of pollution, carbon emissions

China will beef up actions to synergize the reduction of both pollution and carbon emissions as it forges ahead with its climate targets, said Zhao Yingmin, head of Chinese delegation to the COP 27 United Nations climate change conference, on Sunday.

Zhao, also vice-minister of ecology and environment, made the remark at a seminar held on the sidelines of COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where the UN gathering will last from Sunday to Nov 18.

China aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and realize carbon neutrality before 2060.

The vice-minister noted China has made significant achievements in the past decade in tackling climate change.

As of the end of last year, the proportion of coal in China's energy consumption mix fell to 56 percent, compared with 72.4 percent in 2005, he said. The country's total installed capacity for renewable energy generation has risen to 1.1 billion kilowatts, with generation capacity of hydropower, wind, solar and biomass ranking top in the world.

Thanks to the persistent efforts to enhance energy conservation and reduce carbon emissions in key industries such as steel, electrolytic aluminum and cement, he said, the country's energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 2.7 percent and 3.8 percent in 2021, respectively.

In the past 10 years, China has managed to afforest 64 million hectares of land. To date, the total area of man-made forest in China has reached 87.6 million hectares. "China has recorded the fastest growth in its forest resources in the world," he said.

Since many pollutants and carbon dioxide share the same source, China has made synergizing the reduction of pollution and carbon emissions as a main focus in its endeavor to promote comprehensive green transition of economic and social development.

As China accelerates its efforts to promote modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature, the country will develop production modes and lifestyles that can better favor the formation of such synergy, he said.

Together with other parties, China is willing to introduce more policies that can well coordinate pollution and carbon emission reduction, green space expansion and economic growth so that it can contribute more Chinese wisdom and strength to the construction of a clean and beautiful world, he said.