China News Service, Seoul, March 8: Exclusive interview with Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change: Achieving the goal of carbon neutrality is not a “one-and-done deal.”
China News Service reporter Liu Xu
On the 7th, the third China-Japan-Korea Carbon Neutral Forum was held in Seoul to discuss addressing climate change and discuss ways to achieve green and low-carbon transformation.
Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change affairs, attended the meeting and delivered a keynote speech.
During the forum, Liu Zhenmin accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service and said that the concept of sustainable development has gradually become deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and green and low-carbon development has become the trend of the times.
However, achieving the goal of carbon neutrality cannot be achieved overnight. We need to gradually promote energy transformation, strengthen international cooperation, and continue to move forward along the goals and track of the Paris Agreement.
On March 7, Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change affairs, delivered a keynote speech at the 3rd China-Japan-ROK Carbon Neutrality Forum.
Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Xu
Achieving the goal of carbon neutrality is not a “one-and-done” deal
“From the establishment of the concept of sustainable human development through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, to the 2015 Paris Agreement, which proposed the goal of achieving global carbon peak as soon as possible, to the 2021 Glasgow Climate Agreement urging countries By achieving 'net-zero emissions' around the middle of this century, mankind's firm determination and solid actions to jointly respond to the climate crisis continue to emerge." Liu Zhenmin reviewed the international community's policy path to promote green and low-carbon development in the interview.
He specifically pointed out that in December last year, at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Dubai, the first global review of the Paris Agreement was successfully completed, releasing to the world mankind's firm determination to accelerate low-carbon development and "transform and decontaminate".
Liu Zhenmin also emphasized that achieving carbon neutrality or "net zero emissions" is to help mankind return to the balance between human emissions and natural absorption. It must not only achieve green and low-carbon development, but also achieve industrialization and ensure the continuous improvement of human life. Ensure social progress.
"Therefore, the energy transition is not a 'one-time deal', but 'a process' that will take several years to complete."
Liu Zhenmin also put forward specific suggestions for energy transformation: first, vigorously develop renewable energy, such as wind energy, photovoltaic, hydropower, nuclear energy and other zero-emission energy sources; second, strengthen technological innovation and innovation to achieve clean utilization of retained fossil fuels; third, Strengthen the cultivation and conservation of carbon sinks such as forests, wetlands, and oceans; fourth, humans must consciously change their lifestyles and minimize carbon emissions.
Achieving the goal of carbon neutrality requires international cooperation
Liu Zhenmin said that in recent years, 151 countries around the world have proposed different "carbon neutrality" goals, covering 92% of the world's GDP, 89% of the population and 88% of emissions.
However, the severe reality of frequent extreme climate events and prominent adverse climate impacts has repeatedly sounded the alarm for us. Geographical conflicts and unilateral countercurrents are still expanding the deficit of global climate governance. "Human efforts are far from enough, and international cooperation needs to be further strengthened." ".
“Today I came to Seoul as China’s special envoy for climate change affairs to participate in the China-Japan-ROK Carbon Neutral Forum. First, I want to demonstrate China’s determination to promote carbon neutrality. Second, I want to promote the strengthening of green and low-carbon cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea. The third is to push Asian countries to start the energy transformation process as soon as possible to gradually ease the real pressure faced by Asian countries in energy transformation." Liu Zhenmin said.
When Liu Zhenmin specifically talked about the cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea in the field of climate governance, he pointed out that China, Japan and South Korea are the "leaders" of economic growth in Asia, important growth poles of global economic development, and important participants in global climate governance.
Achieving carbon neutrality is not only the common vision of the three countries, but also a favorable opportunity for East Asia to achieve green economic transformation.
In order to further deepen cooperation among the three countries in the climate field, Liu Zhenmin shared three suggestions: first, promote energy transformation through just transformation; second, empower green development with digitalization; third, break down green barriers through technological cooperation, and proposed that the three countries focus on energy storage, Carry out in-depth cooperation on issues such as smart grids, improving energy efficiency, and energy investment.
Achieving carbon neutrality is everyone’s responsibility
"I want to say a cliché: We humans only have one earth, and we must take good care of our home." Liu Zhenmin said, "So achieving carbon neutrality is not only the responsibility of the government, not just the obligation of enterprises, but also everyone's obligation."
"I have noticed that many people are now consciously practicing 'low-carbon life', such as recording their daily carbon emissions and recording their 'carbon footprint'. This is a good phenomenon. We encourage everyone to practice it. Participate in the carbon neutrality movement." Liu Zhenmin gave an example, "For individuals, we can start from the little things in life, such as avoiding waste, classifying garbage well, and achieving sustainable use of resources... In short, we must There is an understanding that we must work hard for ourselves, but also think about future generations, and create a more harmonious, beautiful, safe and reliable living environment for our future generations.”
Liu Zhenmin took over as "China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs" in January this year.
As a senior diplomat, Liu Zhenmin has served as deputy director and director of the Treaty and Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, deputy permanent representative (ambassador) of China to the United Nations, assistant minister of foreign affairs, permanent representative (ambassador) of China to the international organizations of the United Nations in Geneva, and diplomat Deputy Minister of the Department.
In his 42-year diplomatic career, Liu Zhenmin has participated in multilateral negotiations on climate change as the head and key member of the Chinese delegation many times, including the negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
While serving as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2017 to 2022, Liu Zhenmin was in charge of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and presided over related work in the fields of climate change and sustainable development.
Liu Zhenmin also said at the end of the interview, “I have been engaged in diplomatic work for many years, including the governance of global climate change. I want to make good use of my experience and knowledge to fulfill the duties of China’s special envoy for climate change affairs, while also doing a good job in my country’s international climate change affairs. Cooperation helps my country gradually deepen its energy transformation and achieve our country's "double carbon goals". It also promotes global cooperation in addressing climate change, especially energy transformation cooperation, and makes some contributions to achieving the global goal of "carbon neutrality". ."(over)