Blue Planet Podcast shows the impressive green transition of China

Environmental protection and sustainability have become key priorities in China – a nation in which energy generation has risen for five times in the past two decades and now 31 percent of global industrial production. This shift was examined in the last episode of Blue planetThe podcast, which is organized by the former Hungarian President János Áder and with guest Gergless Salát, sinologist and university lecturer.

Salát noticed that environmental protection in China has become a political issue from the need. “They realized that they would suffocate without any change,” he said. From the 1950s, environmental problems of economic development were subordinate. In the early 2000s, however, the need for a change became clear – even rapid growth could not justify irreversible environmental damage.

Áder remembered that China had been freed from the Kyoto climate agreement and that a development nation applies at that time. But today it is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In 2013, 75 percent of China's electricity came from coal; In the meantime, this number has dropped to 59 percent – even as the total energy requirement has increased.

While the coal still delivers half of the Chinese energy, the proportion of renewable sources – Olol, wind and hydro – reached 18 percent. Before 2030, China agreed to a top of carbon emissions and reached carbon neutrality by 2060. These goals have become a state policy that was supported by massive investments in green energy technologies and infrastructure.

Salát emphasized the technological jump of China, which was made possible in 2005 by a special 15-year F&-program. The initiative aimed at increasing the F & e-expenses to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2020-a goal that was achieved. The funds were introduced in priority sectors, with green technologies being consistent.

China is also a global leader in electromobility today. It is the world's largest exporter of electric vehicles (EVS) thanks to a strategic decision to exceed traditional technologies for the internal internal combustion engine technologies that are dominated by western and Japanese companies. Companies such as BYD and CATL have developed as global power plants that displace dozens of domestic competitors in a strongly competitive market.

Salát showed BYD as an industry leader – not only overtaking Tesla in Global EV sales, but also controlled his entire production chain, including components. The company builds a great work in Szeged, Hungary, which will serve European markets. In the meantime, CATL, which delivers 37 percent of EV batteries in the world, is also expanding its company, including a new work in Debrecen, Hungary, to German car manufacturers.

“These companies will no longer be stopped,” said Salát, warning that the West has serious challenges. 'The current trade war is no coincidence. China threatens the technological dominance of the American alliance. '

“Whoever wins this race

He came to the conclusion that Chinese leadership has almost religious trust in science and technology-and is ready to double emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and robotics. In this new breed, administrative tools such as tariffs will not be sufficient. “The only way to compete is to have hard investments in education, research and innovation,” he said. “Those who win this race depend on who holds their belt and runs harder.”

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