China has achieved remarkable results in addressing climate change after years of efforts to pursue a path of green and low-carbon development, Chinese Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Gao said Wednesday at a press conference in Beijing.
"In the first half of this year, the installed capacity of renewable energy nationwide reached 2.455 billion kilowatts, accounting for 60.7 percent of the country's total installed power generation capacity. At the end of July, the installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation historically surpassed that of coal-fired power to become the largest source of electricity. The installed capacity of nuclear power units, including those in operation, approved and under construction, has risen to first place in the world," Li said.
China's production and sales of new energy vehicles have ranked first globally for 11 consecutive years, Li said, adding that China has built the world's largest and most complete clean energy industry chain, and the green and low-carbon sector has become an important engine of economic growth.
Li said China has issued a total of 113 national standards on carbon emissions management and will add more than 50 new national standards this year, covering carbon accounting, carbon trading and carbon footprint.
"The market mechanism has become more effective. China has built the world's largest national carbon emissions trading market, and the national voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction trading market is expanding and developing at an accelerated pace. The incentive and restraint effects of the carbon market have become more prominent, continuously stimulating enterprises' intrinsic motivation for green and low-carbon transformation," Li said.
China reaps remarkable results in tackling climate change through green development: official
