BEIJING — China on Dec 21 released a white paper on the country's energy development.
The white paper, titled "Energy in China's New Era," was released by the State Council Information Office to provide a full picture of the country's achievements in energy development and major policies and measures for energy reform.
Today, China has become the world's largest energy producer and consumer and its transition to efficient energy utilization has been the fastest in the world, says the document.
China has been working on all fronts to reform the ways energy is consumed, to build a clean and diversified energy supply system, to implement an innovation-driven energy strategy, to further the reform of the energy system, and to enhance international energy cooperation, it says.
In the direction of green development, the country has been vigorously promoting the clean and efficient utilization of fossil energy, prioritizing the development of renewable energy, developing nuclear power in a safe and orderly manner, and raising the proportion of non-fossil energy in the energy supply structure.
Preliminary calculations show that in 2019, the consumption of clean energy (natural gas, hydropower, nuclear power, wind power) accounted for 23.4 percent of total energy consumption, an increase of 8.9 percentage points over 2012, and non-fossil energy accounted for 15.3 percent of total energy consumption, up 5.6 percentage points against 2012.
"With this, China has reached the target of raising the share of non-fossil energy to 15 percent in total energy consumption by 2020," the white paper says.
It will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures, striving to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
Further opening its energy sector to the world, China has greatly eased market access for foreign investment, and has built a market-based international business environment that respects the rule of law to facilitate free trade and investment.
An active participant in global energy governance, China has been increasing energy cooperation and exchanges with other countries, and facilitating international trade and investment in the energy sector, according to the document.
"In the new era, China's energy strategy will provide forceful support for sound and sustained economic and social development, and make a significant contribution to ensuring world energy security, addressing global climate change, and boosting global economic growth," the white paper says.
The main body of the white paper was divided into seven sections: developing high-quality energy in the new era, historic achievements in energy development, an all-around effort to reform energy consumption, building a clean and diversified energy supply system, leveraging the role of innovation as the primary driver of development, deeper reform of the energy system in all areas, strengthening international energy cooperation across the board.
Full Text: Energy in China's New Era
