Global Green Energy Initiatives: Are They Enough to Combat Climate Change?

Despite ambitious plans, are global green energy efforts truly effective against climate change?

In order to address climate concerns, cooperation between China, Africa, and European regions is desperately needed, as demonstrated by the recent 2nd China-Europe-Africa Green Energy Development Forum in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. Initiatives such as China's pledge to carry out 30 clean energy projects in Africa and the focus on technology collaborations are admirable, but it is questionable how effective they will be in curbing climate change.

Liu Qibao and other Chinese leaders underlined that addressing climate change is an issue of common concern that calls for cooperation rather than separate approaches. However, in spite of these assertions, a Tsinghua University analysis shows that the growth of renewable energy worldwide is not accelerating up enough to meet the COP28 targets that call for a threefold increase in capacity by 2030. Protectionist policies and growing geopolitical tensions pose a threat to progress, as proven by the EU's recent tariffs levied on Chinese EVs.

While admitting the potential for teamwork, business leaders at the meeting recognized and acknowledged significant barriers such as funding difficulties and market access. Africa's hypersensitivity to the effects of climate change, despite its comparatively minor role in greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizes the critical nature of the situation. Although the meeting is an excellent start in building connections, the true question is still whether these collaborative attempts will result in significant action that effectively tackles the critical issue of global warming. The accomplishment of these projects will be critical in determining the direction of a sustainable future as countries struggle with hurdles and ambition.