Foreign news

China’s path to carbon neutrality by 2060

Published

4 years ago

November 13, 2020

When China announced it would work towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, many saw it as nothing short of earth-shattering in the global fight against climate change.

Why?

China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide – a potent greenhouse gas – accounting for 28 percent of the world’s total output every year. In 2019, China’s emissions surpassed those of the U.S., Europe and Japan combined. Despite China’s per capita emissions being less than half of the U.S.’, a significant part of the global fight against climate change still hinges on China’s actions.

Then, can China achieve its ambitious goal?

This surely won’t be an easy task.

There is no denying that China has made significant strides in recent years in its low-carbon transition, by deploying renewable energy on a massive scale, among other measures.

As of 2019, China’s installed solar and wind power capacities accounted for a third of the world’s respective totals. It is currently constructing more power plants than any other country in the world. The country is also the world’s largest manufacturer and seller of electric cars and buses.

But the picture is not all rosy. Fossil fuels, which produce large amounts of carbon dioxide still make up 85 percent of China’s energy consumption. Coal, a major fossil fuel, alone accounts for 60 percent of China’s energy consumption while the global average is around 30 percent.

This means that for China to meet its momentous 2060 goal, it will have to significantly double down on its ongoing de-carbonization efforts.

But how?

The emissions of China’s carbon dioxide can be traced to five main sectors: energy, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and construction.

Its energy and manufacturing sectors are leading sources of its carbon emissions. The country will have to dramatically increase its use of renewable energy over the next decades, transforming its current energy structure.

This should not only be applied to the energy sector that generates electricity, but also to others, such as the transportation sector where electric vehicles should replace those powered by traditional energy.

At the same time, technology will have to play an essential part in the process with roles ranging from improving energy efficiency, reducing or even removing greenhouse gases emissions in various sectors, to changing where carbon dioxide is emitted.

For example, carbon capture and storage techniques are receiving increased attention in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Their deployment means wasted carbon dioxide can be captured and later released where it does not enter the atmosphere.

All these transformations will require the government to implement policies that can incentivize individuals and businesses to reduce their own carbon footprint. Meanwhile, capital also needs to be injected to make changes possible. According to an estimate by Boston Consulting Group, China would need 90 to 100 trillion yuan in investment between now and 2050 to support its carbon neutrality agenda.

China’s path to realizing its 2060 carbon neutrality goal will not be an easy ride. However, this long-term goal is an indication of China’s great commitment to a green transition. Although the goal is 40 years down the road, the efforts need to begin today.

Scriptwriter: Xu Sicong

Managing editor: Xu Sicong

Senior producer: Wei Wei

Managing director: Mei Yan

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)

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Foreign news

French Envoy Seeks Collaboration With NAN To Boost Seamless Relationship

Published

1 month ago

February 5, 2025

The Gleamer

The new French envoy to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, on Wednesday called for collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) toward strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

Fonbaustier, who is the French ambassador to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, NAN’s Managing Director, in Abuja.
The ambassador said that his purpose of visiting was to pay tribute to the MD, and to seek collaboration in three areas with a view to promoting stronger, seamless and fruitful partnership between both countries.

He added that Nigeria and its people were hospitable, especially to the foreigners and ambassadors alike.

He added that Nigeria was a country with so much energy, strength, stamina and so many talents.

In Nigeria, with the population of this size, it is inevitable that the elites of the country are very outstanding, “and there may be a Franco/Nigeria moments now”, he jokes.

According to him, France and Nigeria can collaborate more and learn from each other.
“I could feel it particularly during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu which took place in November 2024.

“I was there and I could see the intensity, the strength and the scope of the partnership, and I am here to scale up that partnership in all sectors.

“I am coming here for three reasons, first, to pay a tribute to the NAN MD and his team for the quality of this agency. We can testify that the contents that you publish are very factual, and also very well set up and structured.

“You do fact checking and you really do try to provide the community with quality information. I think, as a French ambassador, I can recognise that as part of a living democracy,” he said.

The French ambassador said the second reason for the visit was to intimate the NAN MD of France’s eagerness to go on partnership with NAN saying he hoped for assurance of a seamless, fluid and easy relationship.

He said that his third reason stemmed from his observation that NAN recently signed some partnership framework agreements with Egypt and China, saying “it may be time to think of balancing this partnership with others”.

“Especially with French, and to talk with Agence France-Presse (AFP) to see if there’s ground for a closer relationship between NAN and AFP.

“Which is also a recognised agency like yours, and I bet you the sky will be the limit to the collaboration, ’’he said.

Responding, the NAN MD informed the envoy that the agency was African’s biggest news content provider on account of its size.

Ali gave the envoy a little details of the agency’s operation and its outreach, saying “as our continent’s biggest news content provider, we have offices nationwide and in selected African countries.

“We have offices in countries such as South Africa, Cote d’ivoire, Addis Ababa, and then we have offices also beyond the shores of Africa. We have in New York and we are the only resident wire service in the United Nations.

“At a time in the past, the agency had 11 foreign offices, including Moscow, and presently, we are trying to re-open some of our shut offices, especially in London.
“We value partnership and understanding that we have with similar news organisation such as Reuters and, incidentally, we have a long standing relationship with AFP which you just raised.
“I know for years we have exchange of news between NAN and AFP but it’s a cooperation that we will like to strengthen and with your greater involvement,’’ he said.

The MD commended the ambassador for reaching out and engaging with some Nigerians communities to douse the tension of the allegation made by the Nigeriens.

He also lauded the envoy’s leadership and visibility to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, “which has helped to douse the perception and misconceptions about France, especially in the Sahel”.
“I think you have helped to reverse some of this perceptions. I thank you for the kind words that you said about the agency and about our management.

“We also see partnership as an important tool in checking the spread of fake news.
“We’ve seen instances where fake news has done great deal of damage, and with the coming of social media it has done even greater damage.

“Our country is facing a lot of challenges, one of which is the increasing insecurity, and the social media has been used by those who do not want to see our country to prosper,” Ali said.
He further said that NAN was a credible news agency that always fact check to correct the wrong narratives by those who are in the business of causing troubles.

He also told the envoy that the agency has its content in the Nigerian indigenous languages, starting with Hausa and it would proceed to Yoruba and Igbo languages later, “then later in future to French.

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