Green development and sustainability took center stage at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026. International participants highlighted China’s remarkable progress in low-carbon transition and environmental protection. Many noted that China’s green development model offers a valuable example for the world. Consequently, the forum provided a platform for discussing how Asia can shape global sustainability efforts.
Bright Murr, representative of the Austrian Economic Chambers, has witnessed great changes in China’s environmental approach over the past 35 years. “China is clearly at the forefront of alternative energies, including wind power, solar energy, and electric mobility,” Murr told the Global Times. She acknowledged China’s significant progress but noted that new challenges remain. “We are fighting climate change, global imbalances, and environmental degradation together. The key is not to focus solely on economics, but on the real impact our economies have on the planet. China and Asia can play a vital role in shaping the world’s sustainable development.”
Roland Berger’s Denis Depoux noted China’s abundant green energy supply. “Chinese companies are far more prepared to go low-carbon than five years ago,” he said. He noted that massive investment in renewable energy has created abundant low-carbon electricity. “China is actually accelerating its pace of decarbonization because it has become a competitive advantage. China’s carbon market and 2030-2060 climate goals show this commitment.
Data from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment shows that carbon emission quota trading volume reached 235 million tons in 2025. This marks a 24 percent increase year-on-year, with a turnover of 14.63 billion yuan. These figures underscore the scale of China’s green development efforts.
China has also helped other countries and regions advance green development in recent years. Ni Zhen, Chairman of China Energy Engineering Group, said the company’s overseas new-energy projects now exceed 20 gigawatts in total installed capacity. “The concept of ‘future energy’ has been written into the Government Work Report for the first time this year,” Ni said. “This marks the transition of the ‘energy powerhouse’ goal from vision to concrete action. We will focus on cutting-edge fields such as green hydrogen and ammonia, high-altitude wind power, and carbon capture. We aim to scale up green energy demonstration projects and provide Chinese solutions for global energy transition.”
Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th UN General Assembly, addressed a Boao Forum session on sustainable development goals. He noted that Asia’s experience offers an important example of diverse development models. “Asia has developed very rapidly in digital infrastructure, and technological progress can help us achieve multiple goals,” Bozkir said. “The pragmatic approach to green transition enables greater access to renewable energy and more production facilities, allowing us to strike a balance between growth and sustainable development.”
The Boao Forum discussions reflected a broader consensus that green development has become both an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity. China’s investments in renewable energy have lowered costs and made low-carbon alternatives more accessible. As a result, Chinese companies and their global partners are better positioned to pursue decarbonization strategies.
Participants expressed optimism about Asia’s role in driving the global green transition. The combination of policy commitment, technological innovation, and market scale positions the region to lead. As Bozkir noted, the pragmatic approach to balancing growth with sustainability offers lessons for other parts of the world. In conclusion, the Boao Forum showcased how green development has moved from aspiration to implementation, with China and Asia playing increasingly central roles in shaping the world’s sustainable future.
