On November 15, local time in Azerbaijan, a side event with the theme "Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction China Action" took place at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
On November 15, local time in Azerbaijan, a side event with the theme "Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction China Action" took place at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Wen Hua, Deputy Director of the Environmental Resources Department of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), disclosed that China has constructed the world's largest and most comprehensive new energy industry chain. Previously, NDRC officials also noted that China's photovoltaic module production has topped the global rankings for 16 consecutive years, supplying 70% of the global photovoltaic modules and 60% of the wind power equipment. In the first half of 2024, China's market penetration rate for new energy vehicles reached 35.2%, leading among major economies.
Leading the Way in Global Power Battery Research
During his keynote speech, Wen emphasized the remarkable achievements in China's green low-carbon development. He pointed out that China has optimized its industrial structure to form a complete new energy industry chain; developed a well-structured carbon reduction policy framework; achieved significant progress in energy transition, with wind and solar power capacity exceeding international commitments six years ahead of schedule; accelerated the green transformation in the building and transportation sectors, with over 90% of the green building area in newly constructed urban buildings; surpassed an annual production of over ten million new energy vehicles by 2024; and improved resource utilization efficiency by approximately 60% over the past decade.
From a mere over ten thousand units in annual electric vehicle sales in 2013 to exceeding ten million units as of November 14, this rapid growth represents a milestone for China's automotive industry. As reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on November 14, just one and a half months before the end of the year, the annual production exceeded ten million units this year alone, with a growth rate of about 4.3% compared to last year's total output.
Since August this year, when domestic sales of new energy vehicles first outstripped those of fuel vehicles, they have maintained a share of over 50% for three consecutive months until October. This shows that new energy vehicles are gathering momentum rapidly across China.
Experts note that currently, research and application development in power batteries is leading globally. High-efficiency engines specifically designed for plug-in hybrids, along with integrated range extenders, have entered full-scale market deployment, accompanied by extensive charging infrastructure services across various vehicle types within China.
Xin Guobin, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that supportive policies have created favorable conditions for development, and breakthroughs by enterprises have enhanced product performance, leading to consumer acceptance, all contributing to the establishment of an efficient international supply chain system through global cooperation.
Moreover, earlier this year, Chinese automobile associations projected around 11.5 million annual sales figures, which now seem likely to exceed 12 million based on current trends, indicating strong competitive advantages and a transition into a leading role in global automotive transformations driven mainly by renewable energies.
Photovoltaic Module Production Tops the Globe
Earlier, during national ecological day events held across the country, Zhao Chenxin from the NDRC announced important outcomes regarding accelerating comprehensive green transitions, highlighting the continuous dominance in photovoltaic module manufacturing, providing 70% of the world's supplies, and contributing 60% to the wind turbine equipment market. Among the top ten manufacturers, six are from mainland firms, and battery producers also hold similar standings internationally. Overall, significant progress is evident across key sectors, effectively driving sustainable practices forward, significantly reducing consumption intensity rates since the commencement of the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, with an average cumulative reduction of 7.3 percentage points against the initially set benchmarks, mainly targeting steelmaking and refining operations, etc., ultimately resulting in the emergence of greener factories across the regions involved, directly and positively impacting environmental sustainability goals and collectively enhancing quality standards and expectedly improving living conditions across society.
Continuous Optimization of Energy and Industrial Structures
In 2023, non-fossil fuels accounted for approximately 17.9% of the total consumption ratio, while renewable generation capacities surged to 15.16 billion kilowatts, representing 51.9% of the nationally installed generating capabilities, with coal-fired installations recently dropping below 40%. These figures showcase the advancements made in tackling climate change challenges, as prominently reflected in reports detailing the ongoing efforts to comprehensively address these pressing issues, ensuring future resilience based on the solid foundations being laid currently.
The level of green and low-carbon development in the transportation sector continues to improve. The report indicates that in 2023, national railway and waterway freight volumes increased by 1.009 billion tons and 2.34 billion tons respectively compared to 2018. Major coastal ports utilized green transport methods for coal (91.8%) and iron ore (78.8%) through port railways, waterways, closed belt corridors, and new energy vehicles. The number of new energy vehicles reached 20.41 million, with an addition of 3.386 million charging facilities.
"China is promoting industrial and energy structure adjustments through a series of measures such as improving energy efficiency, establishing a comprehensive carbon market, increasing forest carbon sinks, and enhancing adaptability," said Xia Yingxian, Director of the Climate Change Department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment during a routine press conference on November 6. "We have built a '1 + N' policy system for achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. Our energy and industrial structures are continuously optimized, and progress is made in building the carbon market, along with improvements in basic capabilities like carbon emission statistics."