【By Guan察者网, Ruan Jiaqi】
Under the sweltering conference center in the Amazon city of Belém, representatives from nearly 200 countries and regions are engaged in heated debates about the future of the Earth.
In the core area of the main hall of the United Nations Climate Summit, China's exhibition area is particularly eye-catching, with a 5-foot-high display board that highlights China's battery and power projects in countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, and Brazil. The background wall also lists enterprise partners such as the world's largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL). As an official sponsor of this summit, China's leading electric vehicle giants BYD and Great Wall Motors also provided transportation support for high-level delegations from various countries.
Contrary to the international community, the United States, which has not sent a senior delegation to the COP conference for the first time in 30 years, has raised concerns. Trump, who is hostile to clean energy, refused to attend this climate event, which he called a "scam." The U.S. official delegation ultimately consisted only of Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who publicly criticized the U.S. Department of State for setting obstacles for his two-day visit.
"Politico" reported on the 18th that climate supporters stated that the United States' first absence from the summit is not only a setback for the Earth's response to climate change but also symbolizes an economic threat of self-inflicted consequences: the United States has voluntarily given up the global growth market for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines, handing it over to China.
African officials said that during Biden's administration, countries that wanted to develop clean energy "tended to purchase related products from the United States," but now there are almost no competitors for China in this field. He said, "Most of our (clean technology) equipment comes from China."
Anne Simonsen, head of climate policy at the Danish industrial and commercial group, also mentioned that some foreign clean energy companies have withdrawn from the United States as a direct response to Trump's policy reversal. She frankly stated that in the long term, if the United States loses its "credibility," it will be completely avoided by the industry.
"American car manufacturers are scared they can't catch up with the cars produced by China," joked Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, Panama's climate envoy and chief negotiator. He emphasized that China is undeniably leading in all green technology fields, and most of its technical levels are very high.
Some participants pointed out that as the global energy market shifts toward clean energy, Trump's policies could eventually cause the United States to rely on China, falling into a passive situation.
Nigel Topping, chairman of the UK Climate Change Committee, believes that this trend will hollow out the core of the American industry. He sarcastically said, "It won't be long before a group of American governors line up to beg BYD to build an electric vehicle factory in the United States."
According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Chinese new energy vehicle companies provided 230 new energy vehicles for COP30.
As one of the most outspoken critics of the Trump administration's climate policy, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said in an interview in Belém that betting the future of the American economy on the continued dominance of fossil fuels is foolish.
"Trump has cut off both arms of the American economy, weakening our ability to compete more effectively with China, which is a tragedy," he pointed out. China's exports of green technology exceeded all U.S. fossil fuel exports, "One field is an asset with added value, while the other is an asset with depreciation, and the United States has taken the wrong side."
Reuters reported on the 15th that as the United States' first absence from the COP conference in 30 years has raised concerns in the international community, China is steadily becoming a core leader in the global response to global warming, entering the focus of international attention. Some core roles previously played by the United States have gradually shifted to China, with the spotlight continuously focused on China's actions and contributions.
British media analysis suggests that China's transformation from a "quiet presence" at the COP to an active participant seeking international attention reflects the shift in the global landscape of climate change action following Trump's return to the presidency. "Water often flows where there is space, and so does diplomacy," said Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, to Reuters. China's dominant position in renewable energy and electric vehicles is constantly strengthening its voice in climate diplomacy.
President of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), André Corrêa do Lago, and Chief Executive Officer of the Conference, Ana de Toni, also praised China's leading role in the field of clean energy technology.
"China not only demonstrated leadership through its own energy revolution, but also enabled us to purchase low-carbon products at competitive prices through its large-scale production capacity," de Toni said. "China is determined, not only will it continue to be a stable leader of the Paris Agreement, strengthen climate governance, but also take concrete actions to support other countries."
In the 'China Corner' set up at the conference, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Climate Action, Selwin Hart, said, "One of the Chinese words I have learned is 'working together.' In the issue of climate change, we are all on the same boat."
China not only speaks like this, but also acts like this. According to reports, at the Belém summit, China signed a declaration with more than 40 countries and the European Union on climate actions addressing hunger, poverty, and people-centered approaches, calling for increased investments in mitigating and adapting to climate change, paying attention to the livelihood security of small farmers and vulnerable communities, and using the Chinese wisdom of 'working together' to help the world build a sustainable future.
Looking ahead, China has announced its 2035 national contribution goals and submitted them to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This is the first time China has proposed a reduction target covering the entire economy and including all greenhouse gases. This commitment is rare worldwide: developed countries usually take 20 to 50 years from reaching peak emissions to reducing emissions, while China proposes a significant reduction within about five years after reaching peak emissions, with an absolute reduction of 1 to 1.5 billion tons, far exceeding the levels of European and American countries during the same period.
Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, a French oil and gas producer, said, "In the ten years since the signing of the Paris Agreement, China has become a giant in the clean technology field." The company is one of the largest investors in renewable energy globally.
"We did not really anticipate this when we signed the agreement in 2015, but the speed of China's development is astonishing," he added. "It's too late to cry now, but in a way, it's also good for the planet."
This article is exclusive to Guan察者网, and any reproduction without permission is prohibited.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574296543591793198/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author and is welcome to express your attitude by clicking the [top/down] buttons below.