CCE Director, Dr Paul Jefferiss, was invited to share his expert sights on ‘Green Development and Security’ in a pre-recorded film shown at the China Pavilion at COP30.
Following a major announcement by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) at COP30 in Belém, Brazil—where it released the Chinese Enterprises’ First Report on Contribution to the Global Security Initiative—Paul was invited to discuss how to balance energy security with the low-carbon transition and to explain SGCC’s approach to integrating renewable energy.
Summary
- Green Development and National Security
Paul stated that green development, particularly renewable energy, promoted security for China and many other countries. He argued that domestically produced renewables offered energy independence and protected nations from geopolitical shocks such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. - Economic and Social Security Benefits
He noted that renewable energy technologies were generally more labour-intensive than resource-intensive, helping to create new industries and jobs. This enhanced social stability and provided more predictable long-term energy costs, bolstering economic security. He added that countries leading in renewable technology manufacturing, including China, benefited from increased export opportunities. - Environmental Security at the Heart of COP
Paul emphasised that green development strengthened environmental security by reducing pollution and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. He explained that slowing climate change in turn reduced associated security risks, such as disease, food shortages, extreme weather damage, migration pressure, and conflict. - Challenges of Intermittency and System Stability
He acknowledged that renewable energy also brought challenges, particularly due to its intermittency, which could affect grid stability and day-to-day energy security. He pointed to Portugal as a recent example. However, he stressed that these issues were technical rather than political and that significant progress had already been made, especially in China. - Strategies for Balancing Security and Decarbonisation
Paul described key strategies for maintaining energy security during the low-carbon transition. These included diversifying energy sources, understanding different supply characteristics, analysing demand patterns, using technology and AI for real-time data, managing supply and demand through policy and pricing, strengthening the grid, and deploying short- and long-term storage solutions. - China’s Leadership in Grid Innovation
He concluded by highlighting China’s progress, particularly through the State Grid Corporation, which operated the largest electricity network in the world. He noted that the State Grid had taken a leading role in implementing these strategies, and its latest report documented its impressive contributions to energy security.
Photo credit: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 © UN Climate Change – Kiara Worth