China didn't obstruct the G20 environment meeting to reach a consensus on key issues such as cutting emissions, stopping to use fossil fuels and boosting renewable energy use, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson clarified on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said that the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers' Meeting that recently concluded in Chennai, India, has achieved "positive and balanced" results, but as some countries brought about geopolitical issues, the meeting failed to adopt a communique, which is "regrettable."

China is a promoter of global climate governance

The spokesperson said that China is active in promoting global climate governance, noting that China has published the "1+N" policy framework for implementing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, put in place the biggest clean power generation system in the world, contributed a quarter of the world's newly added green areas since 2000, and propelled an economy growing at an average annual rate of 6.2 percent with an average three-percent year-on-year energy consumption growth. 

China is also one of the fastest countries in terms of lowering energy intensity and its installed hydro, wind and solar capacities all top the world, the spokesperson added.

"Meanwhile, China has provided support and help to other developing countries to the best of our capability," said the spokesperson.

According to the Foreign Ministry, China has signed 43 South-South cooperation documents on climate response with 38 developing countries, and trained some 2,000 officials and professional personnel specializing in climate response from more than 120 developing countries.

"China has made a positive contribution to building a fair, reasonable and win-win global climate governance system," the spokesperson said.

G20 should build consensus to reach sustainable development goals

The G20 shoulders important responsibilities in advancing global sustainable development, coordinating economic development and environmental protection and addressing climate change, the spokesperson said, adding that it should be committed to pooling political consensus of countries, fully respecting their different development stages and realities, communicating and sharing best practices and experience, encouraging pragmatic actions and promoting the international community to work together to respond to climate change and boost the global confidence and capabilities in realizing green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

The G20 should, on the basis of fully respecting and following the objective, principles and frameworks set out in the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, provide a useful supplement to the UN's main channel negotiation on climate change, make sure no new South-North gap will be created in responding to climate change, and realize a just, green and low-carbon transition worldwide, the spokesperson added.

"China urges developed countries to take seriously their capabilities, responsibility and obligations in climate response, further increase emissions reduction, deliver on their commitment as soon as possible, provide climate funding and technology transfer to developing countries, and stop such acts that affect and undermine global climate response as adopting unilateral measures, decoupling, severing industrial chains and erecting trade barriers," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson pointed out that during the consultation on the outcome document of the G20 environment meeting, China has played its role as the President of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, worked to coordinate the interests of all parties, promoted the conclusion of a balanced text, and called for avoidance of unwarranted discrimination or restriction to international trade caused by green economic policies.

"China will continue to strengthen policy exchange and practical cooperation on environmental and climate issues with other countries under the G20 and other frameworks to jointly promote green, low carbon and sustainable development around the world," said the spokesperson. 

(With input from Xinhua)