China And The United States Issued A Sunshine Land Statement: Striving To Triple Global Renewable Energy Installed Capacity By 2030!
On November 15, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the Sunnyland Statement between China and the United States on strengthening cooperation to address the climate crisis.
It was mentioned that in the critical decade of 2020-2030, the two countries support the G20 leaders’ declaration and strive to triple the global installed capacity of renewable energy by 2030, and plan to triple the installed capacity of renewable energy from now to 2030. Fully accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in both countries on a year-by-year basis to accelerate the replacement of kerosene, oil and gas power generation by renewable energy, so that it can be expected that emissions from the power industry will achieve a meaningful absolute reduction after peaking.
To achieve this, we must first recognize the benefits of renewable energy. The first and most obvious benefit is that it is clean and sustainable. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power do not emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. This means investing in renewable energy is not only good for the environment but also for public health. In addition, renewable energy is inexhaustible and is a reliable and stable source of energy.
We need to invest heavily in new technologies and infrastructure. Governments around the world need to commit to policies that encourage the development of renewable energy, such as subsidies, tax credits and regulations requiring energy companies to generate electricity from renewable sources. Additionally, businesses and individuals can play a role by investing in renewable energy for homes and offices and using energy-efficient appliances and vehicles.
The Full Text Is As Follows:
Sunnylands Statement on Strengthening Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis
Recalling the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joseph Biden in Bali, Indonesia, China and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation and working with other countries to address the climate crisis. To this end, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua and the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Climate Issues John Kerry held talks in Beijing from July 16 to 19, 2023, and in Sunshine Country, California from November 4 to 7, 2023, and issued the following statement:
1. China and the United States review, reaffirm and commit to further effective and sustained implementation of the April 2021 China-US Joint Statement on Addressing the Climate Crisis and the November 2021 China-US Glasgow Joint Declaration on Strengthening Climate Action in the 21st Century20s.
2. China and the United States recognize that the climate crisis has an increasingly significant impact on countries around the world. In the face of warnings from the best available scientific findings such as the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the two countries are committed to effectively implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, reflecting fairness and common but differentiated responsibilities. and their respective capabilities, taking into account different national conditions, and in accordance with Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, it is achievable to control the increase in global average temperature below 2°C and strive to limit it to 1.5°C, including efforts to maintain 1.5°C, and achieve this goal. purpose of the agreement.
3. China and the United States are committed to the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and its decisions, including the Glasgow Climate Agreement and the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan. The two countries emphasized that the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the Convention is critical to meaningfully address the climate crisis during this critical decade and beyond. The two countries recognize that both countries play an important role in implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement and promoting multilateralism, both in terms of domestic response measures and joint cooperative actions. For the sake of current and future generations of humanity, the two countries will cooperate and join with other parties to the Convention and the Paris Agreement to face one of the most serious challenges in the world today.
4. China and the United States decided to launch the "Working Group on Strengthening Climate Action in the 2120s" to carry out dialogue and cooperation to accelerate specific climate actions in the 21st century. The working group will focus on the joint statement and areas of cooperation identified in the joint declaration, including energy transition, methane, circular economy and resource efficiency, low-carbon sustainable provinces/states and cities, deforestation, and other topics agreed by both parties. The working group will exchange information on policies, measures and technologies to control and reduce emissions, share their respective experiences, identify and implement cooperation projects, and evaluate the implementation of the joint statement, the joint declaration and this statement. The working group is co-led by the climate change envoys of the two countries, and officials from relevant ministries and government agencies of the two countries participate in appropriate ways.
5. China and the United States will focus on accelerating the following specific actions under the working group before and after COP28, especially practical and practical cooperation plans and projects.
Energy Transition
6. In the critical decade of the 2020s, the two countries support the efforts stated in the G20 Leaders’ Declaration to triple global renewable energy installed capacity by 2030, and plan to triple the 2020 level from now to 2030. We must fully accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in both countries to accelerate the replacement of kerosene, oil and gas power generation, so that it is expected that emissions from the power industry will achieve a meaningful absolute reduction after peaking.
7. The two sides agreed to restart the China-US Energy Efficiency Forum to deepen exchanges on energy conservation and carbon reduction policies in key areas such as industry, construction, transportation and equipment.
8. China and the United States plan to restart bilateral energy policy and strategic dialogue, conduct exchanges on mutually agreed issues, promote track two activities, and strengthen practical cooperation.
9. The two countries strive to each promote at least five large-scale cooperation projects in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in industry and energy by 2030.
Methane And Other Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
10. The two countries will implement their respective national methane action plans and plan to refine further measures as appropriate.
11. The two countries will immediately launch technical working group cooperation to carry out policy dialogue, exchange of technical solutions and capacity building, and formulate their own methane emission reduction actions/targets to be included in their 2035 nationally determined contributions based on their respective national methane action plans. And support the two countries’ respective progress in reducing/controlling methane emissions.
12. The two countries plan to cooperate on their respective measures to manage nitrous oxide emissions.
13. The two countries plan to work together to gradually reduce HFCs under the Kigali Amendment and are committed to ensuring that all refrigeration equipment produced adopts strong minimum energy efficiency standards.
Circular economy and resource efficiency
14. Recognizing the important role of circular economy development and resource utilization efficiency in addressing the climate crisis, relevant government departments of the two countries plan to conduct a policy dialogue on these issues as soon as possible and support exchange discussions and cooperation projects between enterprises, universities, and research institutions of both parties.
15. China and the United States are determined to end plastic pollution and will work with all parties to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution (including plastic pollution in the marine environment).
Local Cooperation
16. China and the United States will support provinces, states and cities in climate cooperation in areas such as electricity, transportation, construction and waste. Both parties will promote local governments, enterprises, think tanks and other relevant parties to actively participate in cooperation. The two countries will conduct policy dialogue, share best practices, exchange information and promote project cooperation through agreed regular meetings.
17. China and the United States plan to hold high-level events on local climate action in the first half of 2024.
18. Both sides welcome and appreciate the local cooperation already carried out by the two countries, and encourage provinces, states and cities to carry out practical climate cooperation.
Forest
19. Both sides commit to further efforts to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, including fully implementing and effectively enforcing their respective laws prohibiting illegal imports through regulatory and policy means. Plans include discussions under the working group on how exchanges can enhance efforts to strengthen implementation of this commitment.
Collaborative Reduction Of Greenhouse Gas And Air Pollutant Emissions
20. The two countries plan to cooperate to promote relevant policy measures and technological deployment to strengthen the coordinated control of emissions of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and other tropospheric ozone precursors.
2035 Nationally Determined Contributions
21. Reaffirm that the nationally determined contributions are independently determined by the country. Recalling Article 4, paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement, the nationally determined contributions of the two countries in 2035 will be economy-wide, including all greenhouse gases, and the emission reductions reflected are in line with global standards. The Paris temperature control target is to control the increase in average temperature below 2°C and strive to limit it to 1.5°C.
COP28
22. China and the United States will, together with the United Arab Emirates, invite all countries to participate in the "Methane and Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Summit" to be held during COP28.
23. China and the United States will actively participate in the first global stocktake of the Paris Agreement. This is an important opportunity for the parties to review the intensity, implementation and cooperation in order to meet the temperature control goals of the Paris Agreement, which is to control the increase in global average temperature at a low level. within 2°C and strive to limit it to 1.5°C, consistent with the Parties’ determination to keep the 1.5°C temperature control target achievable.
24. The two countries are committed to working together and with other Parties to reach a global stocktake decision by consensus. The two countries believe that the decision:
- Should reflect substantial positive progress towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, including that the Agreement has promoted action by parties and non-party stakeholders, and that the world is clearly in a better position on the temperature rise trajectory than without the agreement status;
- Consideration should be given to fairness and reference to the best available science, including the latest IPCC reports;
- should maintain a balance across thematic areas, include retrospective and responsive elements, and be consistent with the Paris Agreement design;
- It should reflect that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement requires combining different national conditions, significantly increasing ambition and strengthening implementation in terms of actions and support;
- Signals should be sent in terms of energy transition (renewable energy, coal/oil/gas), carbon sinks such as forests, non-carbon dioxide gases such as methane, and low-carbon technologies;
- Recognizing the nationally determined nature of Nationally Determined Contributions and recalling Article 4, paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement, economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions covering all greenhouse gases in 2035 should be encouraged;
-- Should reflect the critical importance of adaptation and be supported by a strong decision to propose a strong global adaptation goal framework - Accelerate adaptation, including setting targets/indicators to strengthen adaptation effectiveness; Contract for developing countries provide early warning systems; strengthen adaptation efforts in key areas such as food, water, infrastructure, health and ecosystems;
- It should be noted that developed countries are expected to achieve a climate finance target of US$100 billion in 2023, and reiterated the urge for developed country parties to at least double the adaptation finance they provide; look forward to COP29 adopting a new collective quantified finance target; and make financial flows consistent with Paris objectives of the agreement;
- The proposal of the Transitional Council to establish financial arrangements to address loss and damage, including the establishment of a fund for this purpose, should be welcomed and appreciated;
- The important role of international cooperation should be emphasized, including that the global nature of the climate crisis requires the broadest possible cooperation, which is a key enabler of strong mitigation actions and climate-resilient development.
25. China and the United States are committed to further strengthening dialogue and collaborative efforts and supporting the UAE, the UAE chair, to successfully host COP28.
Another important factor in achieving this goal is innovation. New technologies such as energy storage systems and smart grids will play a vital role in increasing renewable energy capacity. Energy storage systems will allow us to store excess energy generated by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar for use when power generation is insufficient. Smart grids, on the other hand, will help us better manage and distribute energy more efficiently.
In the end, education and awareness are key. The more people understand the benefits of renewable energy, the more likely they are to support it. Educational campaigns should target individuals, businesses and governments to explain the benefits of renewable energy and the steps needed to transition to a clean energy future.