Egypt prepares to host the COP27 summit. It is the biggest event on climate and countries are preparing to present their stances. African Union countries already said they will stand firm in fighting for their right, as they said, to use fossil fuels longer due to eradicate energy poverty and poverty in general.
China sent a message that rich countries must stop with their “empty slogans” when it comes to climate change. The most populated country in the world holds a stance that the rich countries have to fulfill their commitments and meet funding the poor countries.
Put forward targets, then turn them into actions
Li Gao, head of the climate change office at China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment said that it is equally important to put forward targets, but also to turn those targets into actions.
He said at the briefing in Beijing that rich countries have to show real ambition at the COP27 meeting. COP27 will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt in November. Mr. Li made clear that by “showing real ambition” he understands rich countries to stop with empty words and start providing $100 billion a year by 2020 as they have promised in 2009. This money supposes to be spent helping developing countries to adapt to climate change. According to Li, the delay in doing so has “seriously hindered” progress and damaged “mutual trust”.
-We urge developed countries to fulfill their annual funding commitments of $100 billion as soon as possible, instead of merely submitting a report to COP27 making excuses for the delay, – Li said.
China pledged last year to peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become “carbon neutral” by 2060. But it has been chastised for not acting faster to reduce coal consumption. Coal use is still increasing.
China: Climate change is politics
Experts believe Beijing is unlikely to make new commitments ahead of this year’s round of talks, especially given diplomatic tensions with the US over Taiwan and other issues.
Li prompted countries to stop politicizing climate change. He warned that undermining China’s solar panel industry is undermining the global transition to clean energy. US prohibited imports of solar products from the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang, a major producer of polysilicon, which is a key solar component. The reason is that China allegedly uses forced labor in Xinjiang. China categorically denies it.