Former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Erik Solheim stated during an interview at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, that China’s strong green capacity has made the world cleaner and more eco-friendly. Solheim emphasized that China is an indispensable country for the world’s green transformation.
According to reports from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), over the past decade, the average unit costs of global wind and solar energy projects have dropped by over 60% and 80%, respectively. A significant portion of this success is attributed to China’s contributions in innovation, manufacturing, and engineering. Solheim remarked, “China is a world leader in renewable energy. The world’s green development is impossible without China.” He further highlighted that in critical green sectors such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, batteries, and electric vehicles, China accounts for more than 60% of global production.
As Vice Chair of the Belt and Road Green Development International Research Institute, Solheim noted that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its principles of green development offer solutions to global climate challenges. The initiative has established green corridors in many countries through projects in solar, wind, and hydropower energy, thereby promoting the green industries and economic development of partner nations.
According to data from China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China has so far signed 53 climate change cooperation agreements with 42 developing countries. Through projects aimed at increasing the clean and efficient use of energy resources and enhancing climate adaptation capacities, as well as providing personnel training, China has made significant contributions to these nations.