UN climate chief hails China's experience in green transition

China's domestic decarbonization experience offers a clear model for the world as it drives innovation, lowers clean‑technology costs, and creates jobs at home, a senior United Nations climate official said in an interview aired Friday.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said China's climate leadership is more important than ever as the global energy transition has reached an irreversible stage.

"In terms of the efforts, significant efforts that are made in terms of your own domestic decarbonization, [are] absolutely remarkable. And there are lessons that many others can learn, the speed of China's transition, its investment in green low-carbon economy is mind-blowing. Both in terms of how that has benefited job creation, economic opportunities here, the sheer volume, scale, speed of what is happening here in China is driving innovation, it is driving down prices which the rest of the world has been able to benefit from," said Stiell.

When asked which of China's innovations and practical experiences could serve as a reference for other nations, Stiell highlighted the country's comprehensive approach across the entire clean-energy value chain.

Stiell added that China's end-to-end strategy, from developing key technologies to scaling up production, cultivating domestic markets, and channeling growth into tangible social benefits, presents a well-defined pathway that other countries can study and adapt.

"Whether it is your investments in research and development, or the key technologies for the transition, and translating those innovations into products that can scale up, making markets as well as supplying markets, again, there are examples there to be taken how those then translate into job creation, economic growth, social benefits for your people. Again, there is a model that is quite clear there that others can take, others can learn from," he said.

China opened 15 new international air cargo routes in September, adding 42 round-trip flights per week, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP)’s air logistics division said on Sunday.

The newly launched routes included nine to Asia, four to Europe, and two to North America.

The cargo transported on the routes mainly included cross-border e-commerce goods, fresh food and agricultural products, electromechanical and electronic products, high-end manufactured goods, and consumer goods for daily use.

The flights are operated by nine airlines, eight of which are Chinese carriers.

According to CFLP’s air logistics division, China had opened a total of 130 new international air cargo routes as of September 30 this year, adding more than 334 round-trip flights per week.