Kunming drives green transition to foster sustainable development

Kunming in Yunnan province continues to push forward with its green transition by leveraging green technology to promote sustainable economic and social growth, according to local officials.

PetroChina Yunnan Petrochemical Co, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, is pioneering this effort as the first refining and chemical enterprise in this corporation to pilot the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) system.

Bao Yongzhong, the subsidiary company's executive director and Party secretary, highlighted that nearly all the electricity used in their production processes comes from hydropower in Yunnan. To further diversify their green energy sources, they are investing in photovoltaic installations on the rooftops of their facilities, he said on Monday.

Yunnan Petrochemical plans to import crops from Laos to use as raw materials for green chemical production.

"This initiative allows us to accelerate our green transition while also boosting the economies of neighboring countries, contributing to regional stability and development," Bao said.

The Anning Industrial Park, where Yunnan Petrochemical is located, is striving to become a zero-carbon park. Over 90 percent of the park's energy comes from clean sources, according to the park's management committee.

Li Shaokang, deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee of Anning Industrial Park in Kunming, hared the ambitious goal that by 2025, they aim to achieve 100 percent rooftop photovoltaic coverage and 100 percent green power supply.

"We are determined to set a national benchmark for zero-carbon industrial parks," said Li.

Li Yuan, deputy director of the Kunming Municipal Development and Reform Commission, emphasized the city's commitment to developing eco-friendly, efficient, and low-carbon industries.

"In the first half of 2024, the city used 17 percent of the province's electricity to contribute 26 percent of the province's GDP. By mid-2024, the city's green energy industry had already surpassed a production value of 270 billion yuan（$37.8 billion）said Li on Monday.