SCIO briefing on China's renewable energy development
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 2, 2021
CCTV:
The 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) is a crucial and best time for China to peak its carbon dioxide emissions. What measures will the NEA take to realize the goal of peaking emissions?
Zhang Jianhua:
On March 15, at the ninth meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored that for carbon emissions to peak and to achieve carbon neutrality requires an extensive and profound systemic reform of the economy and society, and should be incorporated into the overall task of promoting ecological progress. He called for a spirit of perseverance in achieving the goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. There are 10 years between now and 2030. The first five years, which is also the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), is a crucial stage for low-carbon energy transformation. We will take measures in three aspects to ensure solid progress in peaking carbon emissions.
First, we will fully develop non-fossil fuel energy. The share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption will reach around 25% and China's total installed capacity of wind and solar power will exceed 1.2 billion kilowatts by 2030. General Secretary Xi Jinping made commitments to these two goals, which outline what we must achieve. We will make more active new energy development goals and accelerate the development of wind and solar power. Meanwhile, we will exploit hydropower according to local conditions and develop nuclear power in an active and orderly way under the premise of ensuring safety. We will also quicken the construction of adjustable energy supplies such as pumped power storage and new-type power storage, to increase the flexibility of electricity systems and improve new energy consumption levels. Mr. Huang also just now mentioned the consumption of new energy, which is a pressing task.
Second, we will greatly advance the green energy use model. In order to peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, we should take the lead in the green transformation of social and economic development across the board and promote a green energy use model in key sectors and even across the whole society. We will adopt stricter energy consumption standards and support the replacement of fossil fuel energy and reform the ways energy is consumed in key sectors such as industry, architecture, and transportation. We will push forward the development of photovoltaic integration and the green energy use model via new energy vehicles and accelerate the replacement of electric energy in heating and cooking to improve the level of electrification across the whole of society. By 2025, the energy consumption per unit of GDP and its carbon dioxide emissions will decrease by 13.5% and 18%, respectively, compared to 2020. These two goals have already been included in the 14th Five-Year Plan.
Third, we will make and implement more effective policies and measures. According to the general arrangements of the CPC central committee and the State Council, and sincerely carrying out the guiding principles of the ninth meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, the NEA is studying various paths, targets, and measures to realize the peak in carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. We will make supporting policies and measures for key targets to bolster low-carbon energy-smart transformation, the high-quality development of new energy, the building of new types of electrical systems, and the development of new types of energy storage. At the same time, we will well connect energy planning at national and provincial levels during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and integrate those targets into the plan such as responsibilities relating to power consumption, energy-saving, and emissions reduction to peak carbon emissions. We will give full play to the guiding role of planning, define clear responsibilities for all regions and localities to reduce carbon emissions, and support regions where the conditions permit to take the lead in realizing a peak in carbon emissions. We are about to buckle down to the job now. Thank you.
