Advance layout to guide the green transformation of energy in the areas along the route
——Interview with Wang Yuanfeng, Director of the Carbon Neutral Science and Technology and Strategic Research Center of Beijing Jiaotong University
Reporters Wu Mengyao, Li Xinzhi, Liu Qinzhuang, and Yang Wenchang, correspondents
At present, the carbon emissions and energy consumption of the areas along the "Belt and Road" are relatively small, is there still a need for green transformation? Wang Yuanfeng, director of the Carbon Neutral Science and Technology and Strategic Research Center of Beijing Jiaotong University, said in an interview with reporters that if it is not controlled, with the continuous acceleration of regional energy development, comprehensively considering its greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil energy, in the future, carbon emissions along the "Belt and Road" will account for a large proportion of total global emissions.
Wang Yuanfeng pointed out that China will combine its own development goals and development experience, and work together with countries along the "Belt and Road" to control the level of carbon emissions and promote its green and low-carbon transformation of energy, which is also of great significance for the entire human response to climate change.
China Electric Power News: "The "Belt and Road" Green Energy Cooperation Qingdao Initiative was released, please talk about your understanding of this initiative.
Wang Yuanfeng: The Qingdao Initiative emphasizes that the "Belt and Road" energy cooperation should be transformed into green, sustainable and inclusive development, and the next stage will focus on promoting the construction of green energy. This is of great significance for the further deepening of energy cooperation along the "Belt and Road".
At the same time, the Qingdao Initiative puts forward several key tasks for the green development of energy. First of all, we must formulate relevant plans and set energy green development goals. Secondly, we must make green energy reliable, and there can be no energy price "roller coaster" so that the people can afford it. Third, we must attach importance to capacity building and give more support to the green energy capacity building of countries along the "Belt and Road" on the basis of China's existing experience.
In general, the Qingdao Initiative has made good plans in terms of planning objectives, capacity building, financial investment, etc., which will have an important impact on further work.
China Electric Power News: As a professional researcher in the field of carbon neutrality, what kind of impact do you think the promotion of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in China will have on the energy development of countries along the "Belt and Road"?
Wang Yuanfeng: The goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is to cope with climate change and guide the green transformation of energy, which will inevitably have an important impact on the energy development of countries along the "Belt and Road".
In September this year, China has officially pledged not to build overseas coal-fired power plant projects. The second "Belt and Road" Energy Ministers' Meeting also stressed many times that in the future, energy cooperation among countries along the "Belt and Road" should focus on promoting the development of renewable energy and clean energy, and promote energy conservation and emission reduction, so as to achieve the common development goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. A number of energy ministers of countries along the "Belt and Road" also pointed out in their speeches that relevant countries should achieve net zero emissions targets. Without scientific guidance and control, with the continuous acceleration of regional economic and energy development, and taking into account its greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil energy, in the future, carbon emissions along the "Belt and Road" will account for a large proportion of total global emissions.
China will combine its own development goals and development experience, and work with countries along the "Belt and Road" to ensure that carbon emissions in these areas do not grow on a large scale and promote their energy green and low-carbon transformation. This initiative will also have an important impact on the entire human response to climate change.
China Electric Power News: In the next stage, what will be the key areas of cooperation in China's international energy cooperation along the "Belt and Road"?
Wang Yuanfeng: In fact, the Qingdao Initiative has clearly planned the next step. In terms of big goals, in the next stage, the "Belt and Road" energy partners should develop in the two directions of green development and capacity building.
In terms of green energy development, China itself has a foundation for development. Energy cooperation can not only have "hard" aspects - strengthening exchanges in energy infrastructure construction, but also have "soft" aspects, that is, mutual reference in development policies, industry standards, system mechanisms and other aspects.
In terms of capacity building, China will continue to help countries or regions along the "Belt and Road" to improve the level of energy capacity building, strengthen energy technology innovation and supply capacity, and make more contributions to regional energy development.
This year's Belt and Road Energy Ministers' Meeting released 15 best practice cases for international cooperation in energy. In the future, through the deepening of cooperation, it is hoped that more green practices can blossom and bear fruit. Not only the countries along the "Belt and Road", but also the global energy development forces will be gathered here to achieve high-quality interconnection and interconnection in all countries in the world, and accelerate the energy development and green transformation of the regions along the "Belt and Road".
Reporters: Wu Mengyao, Li Xinzhi, Liu Qinzhuang, correspondent Yang Wenchang
Photography: Wang Fei, Fan Chao, Xu Ke