Representatives at COP-23 try to reach consensus on fighting climate change

China 24

People pass the German pavilion in the shape of the earth during the COP 23 Fiji UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, Wednesday evening, Nov. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Nearly 200 countries and territories are trying to come to a consensus on how to bolster the Paris Climate Agreement.

Representatives are attending the United Nations climate talks – known as COP-23.

China continues to contribute to green energy development with countries along the Belt and Road.

CGTN’s Natalie Carney has more from Bonn.

There are dozens of countries active in the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative.  Together, they’re building massive infrastructure projects to help increase trade but not always with green energy. That’s where China comes in.

It has the opportunity to play a leading role in transitioning these partners away from fossil fuels.

“We are developing standards or guidelines for overseas investment in the Belt,” said

Dr. Chai Qimin of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, who works closely with the Chinese government.  “We also encourage the investment in renewables. We can see a very interesting curve, especially when it comes to solar and wind power.  It’s increasing very fast in those counties.”

Much of the Chinese government’s Silk Road fund is going toward the development of carbon conscious infrastructure projects.

China now has an increasing number of citizens relying on green energy. And by the end of the decade, Beijing will have committed at least $360 billion to the renewables sector.

The country has also launched a range of national low-carbon pilot projects, including more than 50 low carbon industrial parks.

“We all know that industry accounts for 60% of carbon dioxide emissions and also the industry parks development is the main driving force of economic growth in China,” Dr. Yu Xiang of the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said.

“So the China central government launched the biggest pilot project in the whole world, to promote the industry, the transformation to the green and low carbon development. We need to share the low carbon examples of the industry parks in the One Belt One Road industry parks.”

Yet, at the same time, the 2017 climate budget announced at COP23 predicts China’s own carbon dioxide emissions will rise 3.5 percent this year compared to 2016.

Nevertheless, Beijing has clamped down on illegal mining and pollution as it focuses on a shift to clean energy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he wants his country to take the “driving seat” in global climate change negotiations. While the country remains the world’s biggest CO2 emitter, it has also become the world’s leader in green energy production, reinforcing its commitment to change and providing a practical roadmap for others along the ancient Silk Road.