Xi Jinping: "By 2030, China's Non-Fossil Energy Share to Reach 25%"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to announce plans to increase the share of non-fossil energy to around 25% by 2030.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), President Xi plans to make this announcement at the world climate summit attended by leaders from 40 countries on the 22nd (local time).

As China, the world's largest carbon dioxide emitter, faces increasing international pressure to take additional measures to address the climate crisis, expectations are growing that President Xi will unveil new plans at this meeting.

Li Shuo, Senior Advisor for Greenpeace East Asia, said, "China's pledge is a good start and a firm step towards cooperation," adding, "More concrete plans and practical measures are needed."

However, the prevailing view is that it is unlikely China will raise new climate-related agendas at a U.S.-led meeting.

Byford Chang, a researcher at E3G, a climate change think tank based in London, UK, analyzed that President Xi is more likely to announce new climate commitments through other multilateral meetings such as the United Nations General Assembly.

He said, "Tensions between the U.S. and China remain very high outside the climate field," and "Chinese policymakers are likely carefully seeking the right timing to announce new climate policies to avoid giving the impression of succumbing to U.S. diplomatic pressure."

(Photo by SCMP)

Rauri Milivirta, a researcher at the Finnish Energy Clean Air Research Center, also pointed out, "Where China announces new climate plans is a symbolic issue," adding, "What is more important is whether China, whose carbon emissions continue to rise, will strengthen efforts to reduce carbon emissions."

The world climate summit, attended by leaders from 40 countries including the U.S. and China, will be held virtually over two days on the 22nd and 23rd. Although President Biden's greenhouse gas reduction plan is a non-binding symbolic declaration, it is expected to be a major agenda item at the meeting.

This climate summit is the first international meeting held since President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement.

According to the Associated Press, President Joe Biden is expected to present a plan at the meeting to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to half of the current level by 2030. This is double the reduction plan previously announced by the U.S. and is expected to influence the pace of greenhouse gas reductions in other countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.