REPLAY - Watch China's president Xi Jinping's address at Paris Climate Conference COP21

Xi Jinping’s Remarks at the Paris Climate Conference

At the opening ceremony of the Paris climate conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the terrorist attacks in Paris would not stop global efforts to address climate change. He expressed sympathy to the French people and thanked France for hosting the conference.

Principles for the Paris Agreement

Xi said the Paris agreement should support the UN climate convention and set a clear course toward sustainable, low-carbon development. He called for an agreement that would:

• Encourage broad participation and coordinated action by governments, businesses, civil society and the public.
• Increase resources for climate action. Developed countries, he said, should meet their commitment to mobilize US$100 billion annually by 2020 and provide more financial support and technology transfers to developing countries.
• Recognize different national circumstances and respect developing countries’ needs to reduce poverty and improve living standards.

Xi described the conference as a starting point for further cooperation, not a finish line. He called for “win-win” outcomes, fairness and effective implementation of international rules, while upholding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. He also urged countries to learn from one another while pursuing solutions suited to their own circumstances.

China’s Climate Actions and Targets

Xi said ecological development would be a priority in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan. He outlined plans to improve the country’s industrial mix, develop low-carbon energy, buildings and transport, and establish a national carbon-emissions trading market.

China’s stated targets included:

• Peaking CO₂ emissions around 2030, or earlier if possible.
• Cutting emissions per unit of GDP by 60–65% from 2005 levels by 2030.
• Raising non-fossil fuels to about 20% of primary energy use.
• Increasing forest stock by about 4.5 billion cubic metres from 2005 levels.

Climate Cooperation with Developing Countries

Xi described China’s climate cooperation with developing countries, including a proposed 20 billion yuan South-South climate cooperation fund, pilot low-carbon industrial parks, mitigation and adaptation projects, training opportunities, and assistance with climate financing and related areas such as clean energy and climate-smart agriculture.

Presenter and Contributors

Speaker: Xi Jinping, President of China. No other contributors are identified in the subtitles.