Global conference spotlights China's climate leadership

Chinese and international officials and scientists highlighted on Wednesday the valuable lessons in the global drive for a low-carbon future that can be learned from China's green development over the past two decades.

Speaking at the 2025 Green Low-Carbon Innovation Conference in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, Liu Zhenmin, China's special envoy for climate change, underscored that green innovation is no longer optional but a necessity in the face of escalating climate crises. "The traditional development model of high energy consumption and high emissions is outdated," said Liu. "Green and low-carbon innovation has emerged as the new engine driving global economic growth."

China's progress is measurable: carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP plummeted by 53.2 percent between 2005 and 2024, according to Liu. The country also dominates renewable energy infrastructure, producing 70 percent of the world's photovoltaic components and 60 percent of its wind power equipment. In 2023 alone, China's wind and solar exports enabled other nations to cut carbon emissions by 810 million metric tons.

Liu attributed much of this transformation to the "Two Mountains Theory" — the idea that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". This philosophy, he argued, has reshaped China's development priorities since 2005, aligning ecological health with economic growth. The nation remains committed to achieving a CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.

"China has long been an active participant in, contributor to, and leader of the construction of global ecological civilization," Liu added, a sentiment echoed by Erik Solheim, former UN under-secretary-general.

While China's case is unique, the rest of the world has much to learn from its green transformation, said Solheim.

"By transforming China, the concept has also transformed the world," he said. "There is no longer a choice between economic development and taking care of our earth — we can do both at the same time."

This year's conference, its fourth edition, drew some 300 representatives from across the world. Participants stressed the need for cross-border partnerships, particularly in science and policy.

Science and technology move faster than policy, noted Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin, president of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia. According to him, scientists and engineers must work across borders, as scientific research will provide indispensable evidence for policymakers to make informed decisions, especially those related to climate change.