China's representative at COP 26 has set out what the world's second largest economy is doing to fight climate change.

Xie Zhenhua, Chinese president Xi Jinping's special representative on climate change, was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the COP 26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.

Talks and cooperation

China is in constant talks with global powerhouses including the U.S. and the European Union, to develop cooperative collaboration. Xie says he has spoken with U.S. presidential representative for climate change John Kerry 27 times this year - discussions that culminated in a joint statement to outline actions needed to address climate change.

In addition, China has established a high-level dialogue on environment and dialogue with the EU. The two sides agreed on deepening green cooperation following a meeting between China's Vice Premier Han Zheng and European Commission executive vice-president Frans Timmermans.

Xie noted that cooperation between China and the U.S. and the EU are mainly in the areas of saving energy, improving energy efficiency, renewable energy, reducing energy consumption, and grid stability.

China's own actions

China has set a goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. 

China's renewable energy investments have topped world rankings for eight consecutive years. Energy efficiency is also improving its carbon intensity. The amount of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 48.4% in 2020 compared with 2005. 

More than half of the world's renewable energy vehicles are in China, and the country has committed not to fund new overseas coal power plant projects.

China will firmly stay committed to a green and low-carbon path to development, make coordinated efforts to reduce pollution and carbon emissions and actively explore new, low-carbon models of development.

(Cover photo: Xie Zhenhua speaks at New Economy Forum in Beijing, China, on 21st Nov., 2019. /VCG