Xi Jinping touts China's 26% energy intensity cut at COP31 Antalya

Xi Jinping establishes ecological conservation as national priority

He has long advocated for the principle that "we should protect the environment like we protect our eyes".

Xi also cites the traditional Chinese philosophy that "all beings flourish when they live in harmony and receive nourishment from nature".

Institutional safeguards remain central to this strategy, as Xi has stated that "eco-environmental protection relies on laws and regulations". To ensure local government accountability, China now uses environmental performance as a key criterion for evaluating officials and conducts regular environmental inspections.

China achieves significant domestic green transformation metrics

China has recorded significant improvements in its green transformation metrics since 2012, maintaining an average annual economic growth rate of 6 per cent while limiting energy consumption increases to 3.3 per cent. The country achieved a 26.1 per cent cumulative decline in energy intensity during this period.

Forest coverage has expanded from roughly 12 per cent in the early 1980s to over 25 per cent as of November 2026. The total area planted since 2012 is approximately 1.7 times the size of California.

The nation has introduced a "zero-waste city" pilot framework to minimise solid waste and maximise resource use. The Beijing Garden City Plan for 2023 to 2035 promotes urban greening and ecological development.

Industrial modernization drives new energy vehicle and technology exports

During a 2014 inspection of SAIC Motor, President Xi Jinping identified the development of new energy vehicles as the necessary path for China to become an automobile powerhouse.

In 2023, President Xi introduced the policy concept of new quality productive forces to promote sustainable economic modernisation and high-tech innovation.

China promotes international climate cooperation and green development

President Xi Jinping has led China's commitment to domestic ecological protection while promoting international climate cooperation.

In 2021, President Xi pledged that China would cease the construction of new coal-fired power projects in foreign countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative is being used by China to advance knowledge exchange, technology cooperation, and practical partnerships.

China is using its institutional leadership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to unlock sustainable finance for green infrastructure and high-tech integration.

A high-level climate champion has discussed the concept of a just transition, specifically focusing on the responsibilities of developed economies.

Global climate commitments and the Paris Agreement legacy

Reflecting on this development in a 2021 interview with Xinhua, Ban Ki-moon stated that the agreement would not exist today without the initiative of President Xi. During his address at the 2015 Paris climate conference, Xi quoted Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, saying, "Supreme resources spring from extreme resolutions".

These commitments represent the first time China has established absolute emissions reduction targets covering all greenhouse gases and economic sectors.

Xi has consistently advocated for international cooperation on climate change and the creation of an equitable global climate governance system, while emphasizing the need to respect the development rights of developing nations. He has stated, "is not something that others ask us to do, but something we must do ourselves".

Regional collaboration through SCO and BRICS partnerships

China also committed to training more green industry professionals as part of these regional efforts.

These industrial efforts are supported by the export of green technology.

Heilongjiang province launches 2026-27 ice and snow season

The Yabuli Ski Resort in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, officially began its 2026-27 winter season on Friday, November 6, 2026.

The resort invested more than 10 million yuan, approximately $1.5 million, to upgrade its ski trails.