China

China, with the world’s largest population and second largest economy, is also home to two-thirds of the planet’s biodiversity. However, rapid growth has had an impact both on the environment and the quality of life of its inhabitants. AFD has had a presence in China since 2004 and is helping the country rise to meet the huge environmental challenge that it faces.

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AFD AND CHINA: RECONCILING GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Support the most innovative segments of the energy transition
Participate in the ecological transition
Cooperate in third countries to promote international standards

Support the most innovative segments of the energy transition

Support the most innovative segments of the energy transition

As the first emitter of CO₂, China has promised, under the Paris Climate Agreement, to reach the emission peak of CO₂ by 2030 and reduce its emissions by 60 à 65 % per unit of GDP by 2030 compared with 2005 level.

In order to help accelerate this transition, our actions focus on financing pilot projects, on innovative segments, renewable energy and energy efficiency to promote carbon-free growth.

We support the creation and restoration of heating networks, enabling significant energy savings especially through the adoption of innovative and state-of-the-art technology solutions :

support for the construction of a biomass cogeneration plant in Yichun (Heilongjiang Province)
construction of decentralized geothermal systems to recover the heat of treated waste water from two sewage treatment plants to supply collective heating for two districts of Jinan (Shandong Province).

AFD also supports the establishment of food waste management and recovery system in the city of Shaoyang (Hunan Province). Since 2007, the Agency is also working with Chinese banking institutions through « green » credit lines to finance green investments, including renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Participate in the ecological transition

Participate in the ecological transition

Reduce the ecological footprint of cities

In China, AFD strives to mitigate the negative effect of urbanization and to improve the use and management of water resources. We fund several waste water treatment and drinking water production projects, using energy-saving technologies, providing advanced processing technology and high-quality services, as well as a sponge city pilot project in a district of Mianyang (Sichuan Province).

AFD also finances projects to protect and restore the cultural heritage, for example the historic center of the Qixian district (Shanxi Province).

Protect the natural heritage

The portfolio of biodiversity projects in China is currently the largest for AFD in this sector. We finance programs enabling the development and protection of ecosystem and natural resources with a view to sustainable management of global public goods.

AFD supports the development of several projects, such as wetland restoration in Liaoning, Shanxi and Hunan, reforestation in Yunnan and forest biodiversity conservation in Anhui.
AFD also stands by Xianju district (Zhejiang Province) in the implementation of a pilot project as part of national parks reform in China to protect, restore and develop the exceptional natural and cultural heritage of Xianju.

Cooperate in third countries to promote international standards

Cooperate in third countries to promote international standards

As a major international investor, China is playing an increasingly important role in international development funding. The amount of its funding will be decisive to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals. The achievement of co-financing with Chinese stakeholders in third countries aims to promote international stan- dards in environmental and social issues, governance, contracting and funding sustainability.

projects funded since 2004

1.8 billion

euros committed since 2004

Nearly 100%

of these projects have a positive impact on the climate

Located in East Asia, China is home to almost one-fifth of the world’s population. It is also a huge territory with an exceptional natural and cultural heritage.

In thirty years, China has experienced unprecedented economic and social development and has become the second largest economic power in the world. But the country is also the first emitter of greenhouse gases. While the air, water and soils are severely polluted, ecosystems and biodiversity are rapidly degrading. Given this situation, the Chinese government has gradually realigned its Five-Year Plans to promote a development path that safeguards the environment and limits its greenhouse gas emissions.

The environmental issue is at the heart of the strategic dialogue between France and China. For more than fifteen years, AFD has supported the country as part of a partnership with the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The objective of this cooperation is to mobilize the most innovative French know-how to support China’s transition to a low-carbon and environmentally friendly economy.

Interactive map

This map is for illustrative purposes only and does not engage the responsibility of the AFD Group