In recent years, the temperature in many parts of the world has changed like a roller coaster. Record-setting extremely cold and extremely warm weather events have followed one after another, accompanied by frequent large-scale rain, snow, sand, dust, and flood disasters. As the public's understanding of climate change deepens, global warming and extreme weather and climate events have become central to social concern. Climate change, characterized primarily by warming, is one of the most severe challenges facing the world today, posing significant risks to the ecological environment and economic and social development, and sounding an alarm for humanity.
Responding to climate change is a common cause for all of humanity. Currently, global efforts to combat climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy are accelerating. Countries responsible for more than 65% of global carbon dioxide emissions have made carbon neutrality commitments, making carbon neutrality a focal point of international competition and a driver for reshaping low-carbon economic rules. However, it is crucial to recognize that many countries, including mine, are still in the middle and late stages of industrialization and urbanization. These nations face challenges such as reliance on coal energy and a heavy industrial structure. The next 15 years are critical for achieving modernization, and maintaining a reasonable growth rate in economic development is essential. Energy demand will continue to grow, presenting both opportunities and severe challenges for emission reduction and carbon reduction.
Achieving carbon neutrality is not an easy task, and mitigating the impact of global climate change is even more difficult and prolonged. The climate effects of greenhouse gases emitted from the past to the present will influence our planet for decades, hundreds of years, or even longer. Achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is crucial for ensuring energy security, climate security, and ecological security. We should leverage the leading role of scientific and technological innovation and promote extensive cooperation and research across multiple fields, disciplines, and departments. Deepening power system reform, building a new power system with new energy as the mainstay, and striving to enhance the low-carbon, clean, safe, and efficient level of energy are imperative steps.
While the fundamental solution to climate change lies in emission reduction and carbon reduction, adaptation is also indispensable and urgent. Everyone should take action, starting with small changes in daily life, and practice a low-carbon and environmentally friendly lifestyle in all aspects of clothing, food, housing, transportation, and travel. Green production and living should become commonplace. Additionally, it is important to integrate climate-resilient city construction, sponge city, and smart city concepts, establish and improve air pollution climate prediction and change impact assessment systems under the carbon-neutral target, and actively utilize big data, artificial intelligence, and other technologies to enhance weather disaster risk early warning systems. Continuously improving the level of urban disaster emergency joint prevention will be crucial in building a resilient future.
The journey towards carbon neutrality and adapting to climate change is challenging, but it is a necessary and urgent endeavor for the well-being of our planet and future generations. By working together and making conscious efforts in our daily lives, we can contribute to a sustainable and resilient world.