Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 22 Special　Report | Earth Day: Protect the Earth's Green Future with Renewable Energy

  Xinhua News Agency reporter

  April 22 is the 56th World Earth Day. The theme released by the official website of the World Earth Day is "Our Energy, Our Planet", calling on people to use renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy to replace fossil energy and jointly protect the green future of the earth.

  In this energy revolution that concerns mankind and the future of the earth, China is injecting strong impetus into global green transformation through innovative practices and open cooperation.

  This is a fan taken on June 25, 2024 at the Shelek Wind Farm in Almaty Prefecture, Kazakhstan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Bai Xueqi

  Renewable energy: The key path to sustainable development of human beings

  “Our goal is to double the global renewable energy generation by 2030,” the official website of Earth Day wrote in an introduction to this year’s Earth Day theme. “We call on everyone to choose smart energy solutions for families and urge governments, industries and businesses at all levels to speed up the deployment of renewable energy.”

  Renewable energy is widely considered the best energy choice. Fossil fuels are the main source of greenhouse gas emissions, and human greenhouse gas emissions are the main factor leading to global warming. In contrast, the use of renewable energy can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to cope with climate change and reduces the risks of heat waves, floods, and infectious disease transmission related to climate change.

  On April 21, 2024, workers carried out dust removal work on photovoltaic modules at their photovoltaic industrial park in Aswan Province, southern Egypt. Posted by Xinhua News Agency (photo by Ahmed Goma)

  The transition from fossil energy to renewable energy will also bring huge public health benefits. Reducing the use of fossil fuels will help improve air quality, reduce water pollution, and thus reduce the risk of onset of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, water pollution-related diseases, etc., and reduce the burden of public medical care.

  From an economic perspective, the development of renewable energy can inject new impetus into economic growth, promote innovation in industries, transportation and agriculture, accelerate technological progress, and create millions of new jobs around the world.

  At the same time, after decades of cost control and technological improvements, the cost competitiveness of renewable energy has gradually emerged. The "2023 Renewable Energy Power Generation Cost" report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that in 2023, 81% of new renewable energy were lower than fossil fuel alternatives in 2023. Renewable energy alternative actions help reduce energy costs, improve energy utilization efficiency, and provide everyone with affordable electricity.

  This is the Sanjin Koala Hydropower Station Dam taken on March 17, 2025 in Rasuva County, north-central Nepal. Xinhua News Agency (Photo provided by China Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd.)

  China: An important force in promoting the development of global renewable energy

  Many countries around the world are actively developing renewable energy. Currently, Kenya’s geothermal power generation accounts for nearly half of its total power generation, more than 50% of Denmark’s electricity comes from wind turbines, nearly 68% of Brazil’s total power generation in 2023 comes from hydraulic power, and about one-third of Australia’s homes use solar energy…

  This is the Soxian geothermal power station (drone photo) taken on September 9, 2024 in Nakuru County, Kenya. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Han Xu

  China is an important force in promoting the development of renewable energy. The British energy think tank "Unburned Coal" released a report in April this year, showing that global renewable energy power generation achieved record growth in 2024, helping clean energy (including renewable energy and nuclear energy) to account for more than 40% of the total global power generation. More than half of the global solar and wind power generation increase in 2024 will come from China.

  Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency in March this year that China plays a key role in promoting the development of global renewable energy. He said that as the country with the world's largest installed capacity of solar and wind energy, China's existing solar installed capacity has exceeded the total of the United States and Japan, and the United States and Japan are the second and third largest countries with solar installed capacity respectively. China's achievements have attracted the attention of the world.

  On September 24, 2024, at the China Automobile Exhibition Area of ​​the International Wind Energy Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, staff explained the sand table model to visitors. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Zheyu

  Today, China has a green development concept that is deeply rooted in people's hearts. 2025 is the 20th anniversary of the proposal of the concept of "Green Water and Green Mountains are Gold and Silver Mountains". On this year's World Earth Day, China takes the promotional theme of "Cherish the Earth and the People on Earth and the Nature to harmonious coexist" and further mobilizes the whole society to protect the Earth's homeland and jointly build a modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

  Crossing national borders: Green development is a common global opportunity

  While continuing to promote its own energy transformation, China is also an important promoter of global energy transformation. Over the years, through extensive international cooperation, it has injected Chinese impetus into global green development.

  This is the South African Redstone 100 MW tower molten salt photothermal power plant project (drone photo) constructed by China Power Construction Group Shandong Power Construction Company 3, taken on August 20, 2024 in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The project is the first tower molten salt photothermal power plant project in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the largest renewable energy investment projects in South Africa. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Yudong

  China continues to promote green energy cooperation in the "Belt and Road" and actively helps developing countries build renewable energy projects such as wind power and photovoltaic power generation, which has significantly accelerated the energy transformation of many developing countries. In addition, China has also helped reduce renewable energy costs through technological innovation and other means. Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that the average kilowatt-hour cost of wind and photovoltaic power generation projects in the global market has dropped significantly in recent years, largely due to China's contribution.

  Taking the "African Light Belt" project as an example, since the implementation of the project was announced in September 2023, China has signed cooperation agreements with African countries such as Burundi and Chad to take advantage of China's photovoltaic industry advantages to help tens of thousands of African families solve their power problems and help them achieve green and low-carbon development.

  Nobel Prize winner in Economics Michael Spence said China's low-cost advanced products and technologies can accelerate green transformation in other regions, and will benefit from it, including high-income countries. ASEAN Secretary-General Gao Jinhong told Xinhua News Agency in April this year that cooperation with China is crucial to achieving ASEAN's sustainable development goals.

  This is a floating photovoltaic power station on Ubundrattan, Khon Kinh Province, Thailand, taken on March 5, 2024. The Ubundrat Water Floating Photovoltaic Power Station in Khon Kinh Mansion, Thailand, contracted and constructed by China Oriental Electric Group International Cooperation Co., Ltd., was connected to the grid on the 5th to generate electricity, helping Thailand's renewable energy development. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Hao

  Accelerating the development of green and low-carbon energy is a common opportunity for the world. The white paper "China's Energy Transformation" released by the Information Office of the State Council of China pointed out that China is willing to work with the international community to face a broader field, jointly explore new energy sources that benefit mankind and create a sustainable energy future.

  On the occasion of Earth Day 2025, UN Secretary-General Guterres pointed out that Mother Earth is "having a fever" and renewable energy is cheaper, healthier and safer than fossil fuel alternatives. He hopes that countries will take action to "work to make 2025 a year for us to restore Mother Earth's health."

[Editor in charge: Wu Jingze]