Recently, U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry attended an important side event, at which he announced that so far, 155 countries** or regions around the world have signed the "Global Methane Pledge" initiative to work together to reduce methane emissions to curb global warming. He also highlighted the impact of methane emissions on global warming, calling it one of the main contributors to half of the global warming effect. Despite this, there is still little money being invested in methane reductions. Over the past year, more than $1 billion in new funding has been mobilized globally to reduce methane emissions. Some countries with large oil and gas emitters have also made commitments to limit emissions. Up to now, the number of members of the Global Methane Pledge has been increasing, including the European Union, Canada, Germany, Japan, etc., and the latest members are Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kenya, bringing the total number of countries to 155. However, it is interesting to note that China has not yet signed the initiative. The United States and Europe generally believe that the reason for China's non-signing is "economic growth and energy pressure", and that China's non-participation may affect the effectiveness of global methane reduction actions.
However, this view is not accurate, because China has taken its own measures to reduce methane emissions, has its own emission reduction plans and actions, and has achieved remarkable results. China is one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and over the past decade, it has successfully reduced its methane emissions by 30% through a series of proactive policy measures, far exceeding the international average. This is a testament to China's remarkable achievements in reducing emissions, and it does not need to be subject to external intervention and constraints. In addition, China attaches great importance to the issue of climate change, actively participates in global environmental governance, and has put forward emission reduction targets and plans, including achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. China has also accelerated the development of clean energy and strengthened energy conservation and emission reduction, and has achieved positive results. Therefore, China's failure to sign the Global Methane Pledge does not mean that it is indifferent to the issue of climate change, but because China already has its own emission reduction plans and measures, and has assumed its due responsibility in global climate governance.
China's plans and actions to reduce emissions have been met with a positive response, and China has been stepping up its domestic efforts to reduce emissions. China recently released the Methane Emission Control Action Plan, which aims to further control methane emissions and has important guiding significance for promoting high-quality economic and social development. Prior to this, China had taken a number of measures to reduce methane emissions in various sectors such as coal, oil and gas, agriculture and municipal waste disposal. At present, China is moving forward with its own pace of emission reduction efforts to achieve sustainable methane action targets. China's aim is to ensure sustainable development of emission reduction efforts while ensuring economic development.
At the same time, China is also actively promoting the development of clean energy. China's renewable energy projects, such as photovoltaic power plants and wind power generation, are advancing rapidly across the country. For example, a photovoltaic power plant has been built in a fish pond in Hai'an, Jiangsu Province, which uses solar energy to generate electricity, which not only provides electricity for local residents, but also reduces pollutant emissions. This example shows that China's achievements in reducing emissions are not only reflected in reducing methane emissions, but also in actively promoting the development of renewable energy.
As a developing country, China needs to continue to develop its economy and improve people's livelihood. Joining the Global Methane Pledge could unnecessarily constrain China's economic development and industrial transformation. China still has a large number of poor people in rural areas, and needs to solve the needs of employment and basic life. In addition, China, as one of the world's largest manufacturing exporters, also needs to maintain its competitiveness and maintain healthy economic development. Therefore, China's refusal to sign this initiative is not because it is unwilling to take responsibility, but because it needs to consider its own development needs and national conditions.
China has always attached great importance to the issue of climate change and actively participated in global environmental governance. chinahasnotyetsignedthe"globalmethanepledge"initiative,whichhascauseddissatisfactionintheusandthewesterncountries.theybelievethatchina'srefusaltosignisdueto"economicgrowthandenergypressure"andarguethatitwillaffectglobalmethanereductionefforts.however,thisviewisinaccurate.chinahasalreadytakenmeasurestoreducemethaneemissionsandhasachievedsignificantresults.chinaisoneofthelargestgreenhousegasemittersgloballyandhaslowereditsmethaneemissionsby30%inthepastdecade,whichiswellabovetheinternational**erage.chinahasalsosetitsownemissionreductiontargetsandplansandactivelyparticipatesinglobalenvironmentalgovernance.china'sdecisionnottosignthe"globalmethanepledge"isnotasignofindifferencetoclimatechange,butstemsfromitsownemissionreductionplansandactions,wherechinahasalreadyshouldereditsinternationalresponsibilities.furthermore,joiningthepledgemayplaceunnecessaryconstraintsonchina'seconomicdevelopmentandindustrialtransformationasadevelopingcountry.chinaneedstocontinueitseconomicdevelopmentandimprovethelivingconditionsofitspeople.italsoneedstomaintainitscompetitivenessinforeigntradeasoneoftheworld'sleadingmanufacturingandexportingnations.china'sdecisionnottosignthepledgeisnotduetoalackofwillingnesstotakeresponsibilitybutisbasedonitsowndevelopmentneedsandnationalcircumstances.