China and the European Union (EU), both having set ambitious carbon neutrality targets, must cooperate more in addressing the global challenge of climate change, said French experts on the video summit attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.
Over the past five years, Europe and China have responded "present" to the historical Paris Agreement in terms of reducing CO2 emissions while the United States went on leave at the decision of former President Donald Trump, said Lyazid Benhami, vice president of the Association of French-Chinese Friendship of Paris.
"During the U.S. 'leave,' the EU and China were the driving forces behind climate action. And within the EU, the Franco-German axis is the one that drives the Union. So, it is positive that the French, German and Chinese present together convey their messages to the international community," he said.
During their video summit, the leaders of the three countries exchanged in-depth views on cooperation in coping with climate change, China-Europe relations, anti-pandemic cooperation, and major international and regional issues.
Xi stressed that he always advocates building a community with a shared future for humanity and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with France and Germany on climate change.
Climate efforts in Europe have been going on for many years and the EU is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, which constitutes a new "bar" that must be crossed, said Benhami.
As for the efforts on the Chinese side, "all Western observers have recognized the importance of the Chinese announcement of carbon-neutral goal by 2060 after a peak of emissions around 2030," he told Xinhua.
With this "crucial and ambitious" commitment, "China sets itself a major challenge," he said.
"China is the country that is experiencing the strongest economic growth, even after the COVID-19 epidemic. However, growth generates emissions, unless you put in place not only renewable energies but also very advanced technological innovations, based in particular on digital technology, which can increase energy efficiency," he said.
Yet, Benhami added,"many have pointed out that China has a reputation for meeting its long-term goals" and "I have no doubt that China will succeed."
Christine Bierre, editor-in-chief of France's Nouvelle Solidarite magazine, also found China's policy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 "ambitious and important," "especially because China intends to deliver its promise through scientific and technical progress and innovation, which will allow it to reduce its emissions, without compromising the transition of its entire population from a society of average wealth in 2021 to a fully prosperous society by 2049."
"For this goal, China is renovating its coal park to turn it into clean coal; it takes the lead in the development of electric car; it strengthens its share in nuclear energy, both fission and fusion, and increases the use of renewable energies where they can be useful as back-up energies," she noted.
Stressing that climate change is an eminently international issue, the researcher at Schiller France Institute also called for "a perfect coordination" of the international community.
"The exit from fossil fuels cannot be done against the health and the life of the people and if it is necessary to do it, the advanced countries should contribute to the transition of these countries towards nuclear energy, hydrogen and other clean energies," she said.
As both Europe and China have set ambitious goals in fighting climate change, and "there is no climate fight without the pursuit of sustainable growth," Benhami believed that the two sides must cooperate more and find common solutions in this area.
"To fall back on a 'Europe fortress' would not make sense in a fight that is universal. From this point of view, the comprehensive China-Europe investment agreement is important. It must be ratified as soon as possible," he said.
"The Achilles heel of a successful energy transition lies in its financing, and China and Europe must also cooperate more and find common solutions in this area. The establishment of joint Europe-China investment funds geared towards energy transition may be one of them," he added.
Editor: Leon
