Belem, Brazil, November 14 (Xinhua) — Overview | China Latin America Green Cooperation Makes’ Southern Contribution ‘to Global Climate Governance
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is being held in Bel é m, Brazil. In recent years, China and many countries in Latin America have joined hands to strengthen cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, green transportation, and ecological restoration. More and more low-carbon environmental protection cooperation projects have been implemented in Latin America, and China Latin America green cooperation has made a “southern contribution” to global climate governance.
Green energy benefits Latin American people
Green energy has become a key area of cooperation between China and Latin America. At the end of June this year, the Sylvania converter station invested by State Grid Brazil (SGCC) started construction in the central region of Brazil. The project will transport new energy sources such as wind and solar power from northeastern Brazil to areas near the capital Brasilia, providing stable electricity for approximately 12 million people. Brazilian President Lula sent a congratulatory letter for the start of the project, expressing willingness to deepen cooperation with China and jointly set an example for energy transformation in the world.
In November 2024, China officially opened the Qiankai Port, a key joint construction project in Peru. As the first smart green port in South America, Qiankai Port’s loading, unloading, and horizontal transportation equipment are all driven by green electricity, with zero carbon emissions during the operation process. Former Peruvian President Borualte stated that the opening of Qiankai Port is a historic moment that all Peruvian people can be proud of.
In recent years, China and Latin America have continued to strengthen cooperation in areas such as hydropower, wind power, photovoltaics, hydrogen energy, and renewable materials, with numerous new energy projects blooming throughout Latin America. In Argentina, the Gaocharui Photovoltaic Power Station has become the largest installed capacity and highest altitude photovoltaic project in South America, known as the “sunflower” blooming in the Andes Mountains; In Peru, the third phase of the San Gabriel hydroelectric power station was officially put into operation this year, successfully alleviating the electricity shortage for millions of people; In Brazil, the new Tanqui wind power project can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 650000 tons per year, equivalent to afforestation of 1800 hectares.
Marina Silva, the Brazilian Minister of Environment and Climate Change who is attending the conference in Belen, said, “China has achieved significant results in green technology innovation, especially in reducing costs and improving accessibility, greatly reducing the cost of renewable energy technologies such as solar energy, wind energy, and new energy vehicles
Green transportation helps Latin America reduce emissions
The transportation industry is one of the largest sources of emissions in Latin America. In recent years, China’s new energy vehicles have improved the quality and greenness of regional national transportation systems, which has significant implications for emissions reduction.
In early October this year, BYD’s 14 millionth new energy vehicle was officially rolled off the production line at BYD’s Brazil passenger car factory in Camasari, Bahia state, northeastern Brazil. It is worth mentioning that BYD’s new factory is a reconstruction of the former Ford factory. Brazilian President Lula said that Ford has abandoned the factory located in Camasari, while BYD has transformed it into a factory for producing new energy vehicles, injecting new vitality into Brazilian industry.
As more and more Latin American countries advocate for green and low-carbon modes of transportation, China’s new energy vehicles are widely integrated into the local public transportation sector. In March of this year, the government of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, held a grand ceremony to celebrate the official commissioning of 60 newly purchased Chinese Yutong trolleybuses. These advanced trolleybus adopt a dual source power supply system of “grid+battery” to assist Quito’s urban public transportation in upgrading to green and intelligent.
Mayor Paber Mu ñ oz of Quito said at the ceremony that the launch of the new fleet has realized the long-standing “dream” of Quito people for upgrading public transportation and energy conservation and emission reduction. “The emission reduction effect brought by the new tram is equivalent to planting 400000 trees.
Assist Latin America in creating sustainable agriculture models
During COP26 in 2021, Latin American countries such as China and Brazil signed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, committing to achieving zero deforestation by 2030. China generously shares its experience to help Latin American countries restore degraded land and effectively prevent deforestation and land reclamation.
Brazil has chosen Belem as the host city for COP30 this time, hoping to raise global attention to the issue of protecting the Amazon rainforest. Due to long-term human cultivation, the rainforest area continues to shrink. How to find a balance between economic development and ecological conservation has become a common issue facing Brazil and the world.
With the support of the governments of China and Brazil, starting from 2023, led by Hohai University and with the participation of more than 10 Chinese and Pakistani universities and enterprises such as the Brazilian Amazon Federal Agricultural University and Para State University, the “China Brazil Amazon Region Degraded Soil Restoration and Rainforest Protection International Cooperation” project will be officially launched, focusing on restoring farmland degraded by extensive cultivation and finding new sustainable development models for agriculture in the rainforest region.
In November this year, Qingdao Agricultural University signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Academy of Agricultural Research of Uruguay to expand bilateral cooperation in grassland agricultural scientific research and jointly build the “the Belt and Road” joint laboratory for grassland agriculture. The laboratory will build a low-carbon agricultural system through multidimensional technological innovation based on the industrial characteristics of natural grazing in Uruguay, and promote the realization of green transformation.
A series of cooperation practices between China and Latin America have shown that countries in the global South can achieve a virtuous cycle of economic development and environmental protection through solidarity, cooperation, and technological empowerment, and truly embark on the path of sustainable development.