China's Transformative Path: Redefining Energy Paradigms for a Carbon-Neutral Future

The world is facing an unprecedented challenge from climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions are causing global warming, endangering sustainable development and human living conditions. Given its status as the global leader in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, China must address climate change. China has put forth the main plan of "carbon peaking and then carbon neutrality," which aims to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by changing the energy system to reach the objective of carbon neutrality.

China is aiming for a fundamental energy revolution in addition to environmental aims with its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. This revolution necessitates a comprehensive shift in China's long-standing high-carbon, coal-dominated energy structure to a clean, low-carbon energy system. It is a multifaceted, intricate, systemic endeavor that touches on the economics, technology, and policies, necessitating the collaboration and coordinated efforts of the public, private, and society.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has noted that having net-zero emissions by the second half of this century is necessary to keep the global temperature rise to within 2 degrees Celsius. China, the largest developing nation in the world, will see an increase in energy consumption as it advances economically and socially. The work report from the Chinese government projects that China will have roughly 100 million more urban dwellers by 2030, resulting in a continued rise in energy consumption. China needs help putting the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy into practice.

In the past, the intense emission of exhaust fumes from factories and the burning of coal caused widespread smog in the coal city of Xuzhou. The local environmental quality has dramatically improved due to Xuzhou's aggressive adjustments to its energy structure, which included dismantling coal-fired power facilities and rapidly advancing photovoltaic and wind power generation. Xuzhou is currently among the Chinese cities that are leading the way in creating new energy sources. This is a complete rewriting of the once terrible, deformed energy pattern.

In order to reach carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, China needs to make the following changes to its energy structure:

Limit the amount of fossil fuels used overall and actively pursue the development of non-fossil energy sources, such as biomass, nuclear, solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, while accelerating the study, creation, and use of new energy sources like hydrogen.

2. Increase the effectiveness of using the current fossil fuel sources. Encourage the development of clean coal technology, quicken the retirement of outdated coal-fired power plants, and raise the power system's overall efficiency.

3. Improve the electricity system's complementarity and flexibility. Construct an intelligent grid, bolster the system's capability to take in new energy sources, and enhance the power system's ability to regulate.

4. Quicken the electrification and sanitization of the energy-using industries. Encourage the industrial and transportation sectors to implement electrification reforms and progressively phase out conventional fossil fuels.

There is a clear correlation between a city's environmental quality and its citizens' quality of life. Everybody wants to live in a clean, green environment where they may breathe fresh air and drink pure water. Addressing climate change, attaining low-carbon development, and improving the energy system are also essential for improving people's quality of life. Together, let us accomplish carbon neutrality and make the planet more livable for future generations.

Even though reaching carbon neutrality and carbon peaking represents a significant systemic undertaking, do we have the confidence to finish this difficult task? Changing the energy structure will undoubtedly increase economic costs. How can we reconcile environmental preservation with economic growth? Will there be energy shortages as our nation switches to low-carbon energy? What solutions are there for the intermittent nature of renewable energy production? These are essential concerns that we need to think about and deal with.

According to data from the reputable International Energy Agency (IEA), China's energy composition in 2019 was 7.8% natural gas, 27.9% oil, 57.7% coal, and 7.4% renewable energy. China's energy structure has an unduly high amount of fossil fuels and a relatively low contribution of renewable energy. To become carbon neutral by 2060, China must raise its non-fossil energy percentage to about 88%. This suggests that China's efforts to modify its energy structure would be challenging.

China will inevitably reach carbon neutrality and peaking to achieve sustainable development. Creating a beautiful China will give new impetus to this energy revolution, propelling China's economic and social development towards a more environmentally friendly state. Even if the obstacles in our way right now are overwhelming, we will soon arrive at the bright shore if we keep going. We will undoubtedly establish a more prosperous and dynamic low-carbon future with the knowledge of the Chinese people and the nation's perseverance, having endured numerous hardships and obstacles.