The EU and China are highly complementary in pursuing green transition since both sides are impacted by climate change and both have clear targets to pursue, Vicky Pollard, Unit Director in the European Commission's Directorate General for Climate Action, told the Global Times. Chinese experts said that the remarks set a rare and positive tone from the EU side in seeking more cooperation with China against the backdrop of the intensified probe targeting Chinese new-energy products. They also said that in order to facilitate its green transition, the EU needs to put words into action by looking at cooperation rather than competition with China in the field. The EU and China have much more to cooperate on in the green economy, and it also makes economic sense, said Pollard. She made the remarks after a meeting on EU 2040 Climate Target, a seminar co-hosted by the EU Delegation to China and the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University in Beijing.
During the meeting, Pollard gave a presentation on the EU's 2040 climate target and Chinese experts and industry representatives exchanged views on how to pursue a green transition and how China and the EU can cooperate in achieving their respective carbon reduction targets. Talking about the cooperation between China and the EU in green transition, Pollard told the Global Times that there are many things both the EU and China have discussed and have been working on, including emission trading.
While climate change is a global problem, Pollard said that “by acting together, we can do so faster and at a lower cost provided there is a level playing field. It's also about more dialogue and learning from each other to develop good policies.” The deployment of renewables such as wind and solar power in the EU and in China is a good example of good policies and the benefits of deployment at scale, said the EU official. “The EU cannot undergo the green transition alone, nor can China. It's important that we work together within a rule-based system, including for trade, and maintain balance,” Pollard noted.
Although the EU claims to seek cooperation with China in green transformation, in reality, there is still significant suppression, Lin Boqiang, Director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times. He noted that the EU's move targeting Chinese products is mainly due to geopolitical factors and a desire not to overly rely on China's industrial chain. However, if the EU side truly wishes to facilitate green transformation cost-effectively, it should refrain from suppressing relevant Chinese enterprises and products, Lin said, as reported by the Global Times.
