(ECNS) -- As a responsible major developing country, China has over-shot the climate action targets of 2020 ahead of schedule, and will make the steepest cuts in the world to the intensity of our carbon emissions, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.
The country will complete the process from carbon emissions peaking to carbon neutrality in the shortest span of time, actively contributing its strength to global climate governance, Wang added.
According to media reports, a report launched by the United Nations Environment Programme finds that nations must go further than current Paris pledges or face global warming of 2.5-2.9 degrees Celsius.
“ The report reminds us again that global efforts to address climate change are far from enough,” Wang said.
He noted that consensus has been reached under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement on the principles and goals of the global climate response. The main goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
“To achieve this goal, the Convention and the Agreement also call on developed countries to take the lead in drastically cutting their carbon emissions and provide support in finance, technology and capacity-building for climate actions of developing countries. Developing countries should also actively contribute strength to addressing climate change,” he said.
Wang said the climate policies and objectives that China has adopted now are fully consistent with the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. However, the mitigation efforts from developed countries are far from enough.
“They should take the lead in drastically increasing their efforts in emissions reduction, reach net zero carbon emissions much earlier than 2050, and create space for developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals. Developed countries also need to take credible steps to fully fulfill their obligations of supporting developing countries in finance, technology and capacity-building, realizing the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement with concrete actions,” he said.
Wang noted the COP28 will see the first-ever global stocktake of the Paris Agreement, which is highly anticipated by all parties.
“We hope that this global stocktake will focus on implementation, fully assess the collective progress of realizing goals set in the Paris Agreement, evaluate the gap between developed countries’ targets and actions and their obligations in cutting emissions, identify the gap between the needs of developing countries and the support provided, and earnestly urge developed countries to deliver on their promises,” he said.
“We hope that COP28 will take the global stocktake as an opportunity to act on multilateralism with the UN at its core, fully address developing countries’ concerns, advance a just, green transition pragmatically and respond to climate change with solidarity and cooperation so as to create more favorable conditions to implement the Convention and the Agreement and send a positive message of focusing on action and cooperation to the international community,” he added.
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