China is taking significant strides in the global fight against climate change by enhancing its early warning systems for extreme weather events and collaborating with other nations. Zhang Xingying, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and deputy head of the Department of Science, Technology and Climate Change of the China Meteorological Administration, emphasized these initiatives on the sidelines of the Two Sessions.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Zhang pointed out that 2023 has become the hottest year on record since global temperature data has been kept since 1850. He stressed that climate change poses a profound challenge to both natural systems and human societies worldwide.
As a committed member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), China has made notable contributions, with Chinese scientists elected as co-chairs of IPCC Working Group I (WGI) for five consecutive terms. This leadership role underscores China's active participation in global climate strategies.
China currently leads the world in renewable energy installations and accounts for a quarter of the global increase in afforestation. Additionally, China operates four near-Earth orbit meteorological satellites, providing real-time earth observation data to 129 countries, which is crucial for monitoring and responding to climate-related disasters.
Zhang highlighted the effectiveness of early warning systems, noting that a 24-hour advance warning can reduce disaster losses by 30 percent and offer a tenfold return on investment. "In the face of more and more frequent extreme events, the early warning system is the most effective way. With only 24 hours of advance warning, disaster losses can be reduced by 30 percent. Early warning not only saves lives but also provides at least a 10-fold return on investment," said Zhang. Since 2015, China has been progressively establishing a national early warning system and extends its technical support and assistance to countries in Asia and along the Belt and Road initiative.
"Climate change is a global challenge of universal concern. We must uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and work together to address climate change," Zhang concluded.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
