As the world races to combat climate change, experts argue China’s long-term planning could hold the key to sustainable progress. Jeffrey Sachs, a leading economist at Columbia University, sat down with CGTN to unpack how China’s strategies—from renewable tech to the Belt and Road Initiative—are reshaping the global green agenda.
Long-Term Vision Meets Renewable Muscle 💡
Sachs praised China’s \"exceptional\" engineering, citing its leadership in low-cost solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles (EVs). The country’s five-year plans, he noted, provide a roadmap for large-scale renewable projects like wind farms in western China and Mongolia. \"China has to tell the U.S., 'You can’t fake climate action while boosting oil exports,'\" he quipped, urging cooperation over geopolitical rivalry.
Belt and Road: Green Financing for the Global South 🌐
With developing nations struggling to fund green transitions, Sachs called China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) a \"perfect vehicle\" for delivering solar grids and 5G networks. He criticized U.S. opposition to the BRI, arguing: \"Why not partner with China to help Africa or ASEAN decarbonize?\" The BRI’s long-term loans, he added, could empower countries to repay over decades—mirroring China’s own economic rise.
Trade Wars vs. Global Goals ⚡
Despite hurdles like EU probes into Chinese EVs and U.S. protectionism, Sachs proposed three fixes: 1) Push back against trade barriers, 2) Strengthen the World Trade Organization, and 3) Focus on emerging markets in Africa and Asia. \"China’s tech is affordable—let’s make it accessible,\" he said, stressing that collaboration—not competition—could accelerate a green future.
