I was recently in China for two weeks and saw several cities, including Beijing and Guangzhou that show green development in all aspects of city life. In this piece, I try to explain the concept of green and sustainable development in China and its implications for sustainable development in Ethiopia.
Green economy is an innovative approach to achieve sustainable development by addressing energy consumption, pollution and emissions. It was introduced in 1989 by economist David Pearce in his book “Blueprint of a Green Economy” and has gained prominence over the years. The concept promotes economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. The issue of environmentally sustainable development was first highlighted in the World Environmental Development Agency’s publication “Our Common Future” in 1987.
Recently, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited China for the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, where he discussed economic cooperation and signed 14 agreements with China. On the sidelines of the forum, the Prime Minister visited Beijing, Chengdu Green City and Yangshan Port, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Huawei Center in Shanghai, where he saw China’s green economy. Chinese President Xi Jinping also praised Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative and Prime Minister Abiy emphasized the importance of Chinese investment in Ethiopia’s economy.
Similarly, a high-level delegation led by Prosperity Party Vice President Adem Farah and regional state presidents of Oromia, Amhara, Somali, Afar and Sidama visited the Dujiangyan irrigation system in Chengdu city and Shanghai just this week to learn from Chinese Modernization and China’s achievements in engineering and economic development. These visits served to deepen cooperation and gather knowledge for Ethiopia’s own development efforts.
Ethiopia, a country highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, has implemented various policies and initiatives to address development challenges. The Green Legacy Initiative, which was launched in 2019, aims to plant 20 billion seedlings within four years. Ethiopia has already surpassed this target and planted 25 billion seedlings. This initiative contributes to food security, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation and forest conservation.
It is also in line with Ethiopia’s international commitments, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Furthermore, Ethiopia has Vision 2030 to be an African beacon of prosperity. The country’s national ten-year plan has six strategic pillars: ensuring quality growth, improving productivity and competitiveness, institutional transformation, ensuring private sector leadership in the economy, ensuring equitable participation of women and children, and building a climate-resilient green economy. Ethiopia can therefore learn a lot from China on green development.
China has been actively promoting the development of a green, circular and low-carbon economy to tackle environmental challenges. Chinese modernization is committed to sustainable development and to the principles of prioritizing resource conservation and environmental protection and letting Nature restore itself. The country has recognized problems such as pollution, water quality, dust storms, deforestation and plastic waste. The focus on a green economy is driven by concerns about energy consumption, energy supply and global climate change. In 2014, China faced significant environmental issues related to water, air and soil quality and was concerned about poor water stretches, urban air pollution and land degradation.
China has prioritized green development and environmental protection, which is reflected in the white papers “China’s Green Development in the New Era” and “Energy in China’s New Era”. These papers emphasize the integration of green principles into various sectors, energy-saving measures, technological innovation and the promotion of renewable energy. The country has significantly increased its renewable energy production capacity and investment, accounting for a considerable share of global renewable energy production and investment during the reporting period.
As a leading developing country, China is committed to promoting a global community with a shared future and has published a white paper on the nexus between a global community with a shared future and green development. The country is focusing on improving the quality of life and creating a pleasant environment by investing in parks, green spaces and tree planting. The country is also taking significant steps to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality through policies.
China has also published various climate and environmental policy documents for COP26, emphasizing goals such as increasing energy consumption from non-fossil fuels and reducing coal consumption. However, more immediate action may be needed to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. These include ending emissions and coal consumption as soon as possible and setting absolute CO2 emissions targets.
The country has established a new system of protected areas (PAs), including national parks, nature reserves and nature parks, which cover more than 17% of its land area and protect 90% of its natural terrestrial ecosystems and 74% of key animal species. China has integrated the principles of green development into urban and rural development, resulting in more green spaces in urban areas and a larger per capita park area. The country has prioritized the construction of green and low-carbon buildings and promoted the improvement of energy efficiency of existing buildings, which has led to positive results.
In terms of patents, China’s energy conservation and environmental protection industry and new energy industry have seen a significant increase in valid invention patents. China is actively applying for invention patents in the field of environmental technology and is regarded as the most active country in the field of environmental technology innovation. The country has significantly increased its investment in scientific and technological innovation. Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) has increased from 2012 to 2021. The country has adapted its industrial structure and increased the intensity of R&D spending in relation to GDP. Chinese companies have also played an important role in R&D investment.
The share of clean energy in total energy consumption has risen from 14.5% in 2012 to 25.5% in 2021. At the same time, the share of coal has fallen from 68.5% to 56%. Renewable energy capacity has also grown significantly and has exceeded the one billion kilowatt mark, accounting for 44.8% of total installed capacity.
China is actively promoting the green transformation of traditional industries to create a green, circular and low-carbon production system. Digital transformation, green factories and supply chain management are prioritized, while inspections ensure compliance with environmental regulations. These efforts illustrate China’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices to achieve a greener future. China has made great strides in transitioning to clean energy sources.
The country leads the world in installed capacity for hydropower, wind power and photovoltaic cells. China is also leading the way in the introduction of new energy vehicles. By the end of 2021, 7.84 million vehicles were registered, half of the global total. The country is focusing on green development in the transport sector, improving energy efficiency, optimizing consumption patterns and building a sustainable and low-carbon transport network. These efforts underscore China’s commitment to clean energy and environmentally friendly transportation.
The country is focusing on comprehensive and efficient resource utilization, including improving waste collection networks and recycling renewable resources. The country has made remarkable progress in establishing state-owned green mines and promoting environmentally friendly mining practices. China has also significantly reduced water and energy consumption per unit of GDP and improved resource efficiency in construction projects. These efforts reflect China’s commitment to sustainable resource management, the development of a circular economy and a contribution to global resource and environmental sustainability.
While renewable energy has become more cost-effective, further measures are needed for efficient decarbonization and reliable power supply. China is actively investing in the decarbonization of its energy supply, driving global investment in electricity. The country is expected to play a significant role in the global expansion of renewable energy, driven by improved integration, lower curtailment rates and the competitiveness of solar PV and onshore wind power.
The country is on track to overtake the EU in installed PV capacity and lead global biofuel production. Despite the progress, there are still challenges. The high demands for coal and production capacities are hampering efforts to reduce emissions. The government intends to switch to gas in industry and households, but faces obstacles due to the dominance and efficiency of coal. Ensuring sufficient investment in electricity grids and various generation technologies is crucial to meet the evolving demand for electricity and improve the security of electricity and gas.
The China Clean Development Mechanism Fund (CCDMF) is a national climate fund that promotes low-carbon growth and climate resilience in China. It receives funding from levies on projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. The CCDMF has provided grants totaling USD 81 million to support over 200 projects, resulting in a direct reduction of over seven million tons of CO2 equivalent. It has played an important role in financing companies, mobilizing market capital and achieving tangible emission reductions. The fund’s success has attracted international attention and representatives from various countries have visited to learn from its climate finance model. The CCDMF is an important supporter of climate protection and a role model for others.
In general, Ethiopia can not only benefit from China’s great green contribution to all mankind, but also learn from China’s experience with green development by emphasizing long-term planning, establishing a sound policy framework, investing in renewable energy, promoting technological innovation, international cooperation, and fostering public awareness and participation. These experiences can help Ethiopia achieve sustainable and environmentally conscious growth. By adopting these strategies and adapting them to its unique circumstances, Ethiopia can work towards a greener and more prosperous future. Implementing these lessons will contribute to the sustainable development of the country and the well-being of its people.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY BALEW DEMISSIE (PhD)
The Ethiopian Herald November 26/2023
