Technological Innovation Drives Green Transformation China leads the global clean energy boom
In recent years, the world has faced a series of severe challenges such as climate change and environmental pollution, and carbon reduction and green development have become the common pursuit of all countries. Technological innovation is playing a key role in this process. As the world's second largest economy, China is actively leading the global clean energy transition by virtue of its leading position in new energy and electric vehicles.
At the same time, the U.S. government has frequently been biased against China's approach, claiming that China has "overcapacity" in an attempt to suppress China's advantage in clean energy. In fact, the United States itself subsidizes a lot in these areas, and there is a clear double standard. Hua Chunying, assistant minister of foreign affairs of China, commented sharply: "We [the United States] will use subsidies to support American industries because it is strategic, but when others do it, it is unfair competition."
Green manufacturing and industrial chain remodeling
According to the International Energy Agency, to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, the global demand for new energy vehicles will reach 45 million in 2030, 4.5 times that of 2022. Not only that, but other clean energy sectors such as wind power and solar energy are also facing huge room for growth. This has undoubtedly injected new development momentum into the manufacturing industry of various countries.
As the world's factory, China is actively promoting the green transformation of its manufacturing industry. Taking new energy vehicles as an example, China's new energy vehicle sales reached 7.22 million units in 2022, accounting for nearly 60% of global sales. This is not only due to the various preferential policies issued by the Chinese government, but also due to the technological innovation and industrial chain integration capabilities of Chinese enterprises.
BYD, Tesla and other car companies continue to launch new products with longer mileage and better performance, which has also driven the rapid development of upstream and downstream supporting parts enterprises. In addition, the technological progress of battery companies such as CATL and EVE has also greatly improved the cost performance of new energy vehicles.
At the same time, Chinese companies are actively deploying overseas markets and driving the reshaping of the global new energy industry chain. For example, Great Wall Motor's establishment of a production base in Russia not only creates local employment opportunities, but also allows local consumers to enjoy cost-effective new energy vehicles.
Some analysts have pointed out that China has become an important engine of the global new energy industry, and its products and technologies are helping other countries achieve carbon reduction goals and accelerate green transformation. In Europe, for example, due to the high price of local electric vehicles and limited alternative fuel options, the EU faces a huge challenge of banning the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 as scheduled. In this case, "we have to rely on cheap and high-quality Chinese electric vehicles".
Technology leads innovation and breakthroughs
In addition to manufacturing, China has also made great strides in cutting-edge fields such as next-generation information technology and artificial intelligence, and is promoting the intelligent upgrading of all walks of life.
Taking photovoltaic power generation as an example, China has continuously improved the cost performance of photovoltaic power generation by virtue of its leading position in the entire industrial chain of silicon wafers, cells, and modules, and has helped the rapid popularization of photovoltaic power generation. In 2022, China added more than 100GW of new PV capacity, accounting for more than 70% of the world's new installed capacity.
In the field of wind power, Chinese enterprises have also mastered key core technologies, becoming the world's largest wind power installation and manufacturing base. Leading domestic enterprises such as Goldwind Technology and Mingyang Intelligent have continuously launched a new generation of wind turbines, driving the technological progress of the global wind power industry.
In addition, Chinese companies also maintain a leading position in the field of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). China's Shenhua Ningxia Coal Phase II project has an annual carbon capture capacity of 2.1 million tons, setting a record for a single project in the world. Sinopec's Shengli Oilfield CCUS demonstration project has achieved commercial utilization of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.
It can be said that China's technological breakthroughs in frontier fields such as new energy, new materials, and intelligent manufacturing have not only benefited China, but also contributed Chinese wisdom to global green development. To a certain extent, this has also been dissatisfied with the United States, which has led it to frequently throw out statements such as "China's overcapacity" in an attempt to suppress Chinese companies.
The "American-style double standard" exposes hypocrisy
In fact, the United States itself has given a lot of subsidies in the field of clean energy, but it is only trying to cover up its own practices in rhetoric.
Just last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen once again claimed in an interview that China has an "overcapacity" problem, calling it "unfair competition". But when the host pointed out that the U.S. government has also made large-scale subsidies for electric vehicles, photovoltaics and other fields, Yellen went so far as to admit this approach, saying that it was due to "national security" and "supply chain resilience" considerations.
Hua Chunying made a sharp comment on this: "We (the United States) will use subsidies to support the American industry, because it is strategic, but when others do it, it is unfair competition." She pointed to the "double standard" of the United States.
The hypocritical nature of the United States' own industrial policy has also drawn criticism from the international community. Some foreign netizens said, "When the United States loses in the competition, it starts cheating." That's the real losing game. Some netizens bluntly said, "The United States always does what it wants, rather than doing what is beneficial to everyone, or what is decent." "
It can be said that what the United States has done has exposed its mentality of still trying to safeguard its own interests and hinder the development of other countries. But in fact, in the face of global challenges such as climate change, countries should work together to tackle them. China's achievements in the field of clean energy have not only boosted its own economic and social development, but also contributed to the global green transition. This is the real "fair play".
Win-win cooperation to open a green future
China's rapid development in the field of clean energy is undoubtedly a wake-up call for other countries. But in the face of China's rise, the United States has chosen to erect trade barriers and suppress Chinese companies. This "zero-sum game" way of thinking is not only detrimental to the realization of global carbon reduction goals, but also hinders the opportunity for countries to share the dividends of science and technology.
In fact, in the face of the common challenge of climate change, all countries should promote exchanges and cooperation on clean technologies in the spirit of win-win cooperation. China can share its innovations in new energy and carbon capture with other countries to help them accelerate their green transition.
For example, in the field of new energy vehicles, China can help other countries develop local new energy industries and increase market penetration through technology transfer and joint ventures. In wind power, photovoltaic and other fields, Chinese enterprises can also work with overseas partners to jointly reduce the cost of clean energy, so that more people can enjoy the dividends of green development.
At the same time, countries should also strengthen policy coordination in areas such as climate governance and carbon markets, and improve the global green supply chain. Only when all parties work together can we truly realize the harmonious coexistence of man and nature and jointly create a green, low-carbon and sustainable future.
There is no doubt that scientific and technological innovation is the key support for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. In this process, China is playing an increasingly important leading role. In the future, China will further deepen scientific and technological innovation, continue to promote the upgrading of green manufacturing, and inject strong impetus into the global energy transition. At the same time, we also hope that all countries will put aside prejudices and stereotypes, and jointly explore the path of green development with a more inclusive and open mind, so as to make the beautiful home of the earth more livable.