Remarks by Ms. Beate Trankmann at the 2024 Tsinghua Global Climate Communication Forum

September 14, 2024

尊敬的王校长，柳教授，周院长，以及各位来宾

Good morning.

I’m delighted to speak at the 2024 Tsinghua Global Climate Communication Forum to discuss the importance of the low-carbon transition and China’s vital role.

The world is dangerously off track in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to end poverty and protect our planet by 2030. Critical environmental targets under SDG 13 – Climate Action – are even regressing. Meanwhile, increasingly frequent climate disasters are causing devastating socio-economic effects, washing out hard-earned development gains in China and globally.

To avoid the worst effects of climate change and keep global warming within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees safe limit, global emissions must peak by next year and fall 43% by 2030. Urgent and collective action is needed from all countries, particularly the largest emitters.

China, accounting for 30 percent of global emissions, has a crucial role in the low carbon transition.

It now leads in decarbonizing its energy systems and economies, actively shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy. China has repeatedly broken wind and solar installation records in recent years. In August, it met its target of reaching 1,200 GW of wind and solar installed capacity, six years ahead of schedule.[1]

With vast resources and extensive experience, China can advance the clean energy shift in several ways:

First, China can accelerate its domestic green transition by further optimizing its power system to ensure more effective, efficient use of its vast renewable energy capacity.

While renewables have surged to more than half China’s installed power generation capacity, they currently contribute to only a third of actual electricity output.[2] This discrepancy highlights bottlenecks in integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. Doing so requires not only more investments in grid infrastructure and energy storage, but also further reforms in China’s power market to provide the flexibility needed for sufficient cross-region transmissions.

Secondly, a truly green energy transition also calls for policymakers to consider the fundamental link between climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation, as well as their social impact.

Biodiversity and climate change are closely connected and should be tackled together. Policymakers must assess and address possible trade-offs between the two, so progress on one, doesn’t come at the cost of the other. For example, large-scale solar and wind projects can disturb natural habitats, fragment ecosystems and disrupt migratory routes for wildlife. So, it’s essential to ensure that development of these renewable energy projects follows proper environmental safeguards and minimizes these adverse impacts on biodiversity.

We must also recognize that climate action is not only about reducing emissions. It is also essential that no one is left behind in a greener future. This means supporting and protecting those negatively affected, while ensuring new green job opportunities are accessible to everyone. Social protection mechanisms are needed, including retraining, retooling and compensating affected workers, to avoid worsening inequality. This will ensure an inclusive and equitable transition that retains public support and is more likely to succeed in the long-term.

"The decisions we make today will seal the fate of generations to come. So let us meet this moment with the determination it demands - ensuring a planet where life not only survives but thrives, leaving no one behind."

UNDP China has produced evidence-based research on this, forecasting how China’s energy transition will affect employment in key industries and regions. It also makes targeted recommendations to support workers in need and diversify local economies, to ensure a just and fair transition.

Biodiversity and social considerations must also be incorporated into the updated Nationally Determined Contributions to be submitted by all countries by next year, which are critical to raising ambitions backed by actionable plans to keep the Paris Agreement target within reach.

Multilateral efforts, such as the NDCs, are vital to reinvigorating climate action.

With China’s important record in advancing renewables and environmental protection, its next generation NDCs could also point the way for other countries to follow.

Across the world, demand for greater climate action is high, giving countries an even greater mandate to drive this. In the world’s largest public opinion survey on climate change, the People’s Climate Vote, covering 77 countries including China, UNDP found 80% of the public globally (and 73% in China) are in favor of stronger national climate commitments.

Thirdly, as China places greater emphasis on green development in its global engagements, it could scale up climate support to other developing countries. The latest estimates suggest developing countries need a further $2.2 trillion, every year, to fight climate change.[3] With public budgets squeezed and financial market conditions challenging, official development assistance (ODA) plays a critical role in narrowing the gap. China can facilitate this by providing financial resources, as well as actively sharing its low-carbon transition know-how with other countries, through south-south cooperation.

UNDP engages with China on trilateral cooperation in renewable energy. With funding support from China, we partnered with Sri Lanka and Ethiopia to facilitate renewable technology transfers, including for biogas, biomass and solar. This brought renewable energy to vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka and Ethiopia, improving livelihoods, fostering growth and benefiting over 50,000 people.

Additionally, UNDP collaborates with various partners on research to inform China’s international development cooperation in renewable energy and climate change, boosting their SDG impact.

China’s leadership in renewable energy and its commitment to sustainable development hold great potential. However, the climb ahead to avert climate catastrophe is steep. It is essential that China, along with other nations, continues to raise its climate ambitions and forge stronger international partnerships, as well as leverage its vast resources to drive global progress.

UNDP remains committed to supporting China and all countries on this journey. Through initiatives like our Climate Promise and by informing China’s international development cooperation, we aim to provide the tools, resources, and partnerships needed to achieve our shared goals.

The decisions we make today will seal the fate of generations to come. So let us meet this moment with the determination it demands - ensuring a planet where life not only survives but thrives, leaving no one behind.

Thank you.

[1] nea.gov.cn/2024-08/23/c_1310785026.htm
[2] https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202311/content_6917855.htm
[3] https://unctad.org/publication/world-investment-report-2023