China’s top climate envoy decries trade controls on renewables as US and EU diplomats push Beijing on emissions goals

Protectionism could imperil G20 clean energy goals, says Xie Zhenhua at forum in Chinese capital

During same panel, US and EU ambassadors urge China to cut use of coal and sign pledge to slash methane

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China’s special climate envoy Xie Zhenhua says developing countries have not fulfilled their financing pledge to combat climate change. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:39pm, 21 Sep 2023Updated: 6:46pm, 21 Sep 2023

China’s top climate envoy Xie Zhenhua described export controls on renewable energy products as “politicising” and “imperilling” decarbonisation goals as diplomats from the US and the European Union urged Beijing to do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“If trade protectionism continues, the cost for components in the construction of solar energy could become 20 to 25 per cent pricier than it would be under globalisation,” Xie said, adding that this would jeopardise a goal set by Group of 20 members that pledged to triple the global renewable energy capacity by 2030 compared with 2020 levels.

He made the comments at a forum held by Chinese think tank Centre for China and Globalisation in Beijing on Thursday.

“We hope relevant countries will stop politicising cooperation in the renewable energy technology industries and will formulate fair, open, non-discriminatory trade policies for Chinese products and companies as well as those from other countries,” Xie said, without naming specific countries.

Xie was speaking at a panel on climate change to an audience drawn heavily from diplomatic missions in Beijing. He shared the stage with US ambassador Nicholas Burns and his EU counterpart Jorge Toledo.