China has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding environmental collaboration with Nigeria, as part of broader efforts to strengthen global climate governance and accelerate green development.
This position was outlined by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Abuja, where he highlighted both China’s domestic environmental strides and its growing cooperation footprint across Africa.
Ambassador Yu emphasised that partnerships between China and African nations particularly Nigeria remain central to Beijing’s climate and development agenda, especially in the area of renewable energy and green technology deployment.
“In clean energy, China has implemented hundreds of cooperative projects in Africa, with photovoltaic capacity exceeding 1.5 gigawatts,” he said.
“Cooperation on green technologies assists African nations in their energy transition. African countries have drawn on China’s experience with the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program to implement the Great Green Wall Initiative,” he added.
He further stressed that the global challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability continues to demand collective action, noting that China has positioned itself as a key contributor to ecological governance.
“As the world’s largest developing country, China has not only achieved a green development miracle that has captured global attention but has also contributed Chinese wisdom, solutions, and strength to global ecological and environmental governance and the building of a clean and beautiful world,” he said.
Looking ahead, the envoy pointed to China’s long-term policy direction, revealing that 2026 marks the beginning of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which prioritises green transition and climate leadership.
“The 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for accelerating the green transition of economic and social development, actively participating in and leading global climate governance, and fully implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.
“China will continue to deepen South-South cooperation on climate change, reflecting its commitment to global sustainability,” the envoy said.
He also referenced the recently adopted Ecological and Environmental Code of the People’s Republic of China, describing it as a landmark legal framework designed to institutionalise green and low-carbon development.
“When green development becomes a national strategic goal, and the vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature is enshrined in law, the path towards sustainable development for mankind is bound to become clearer and broader,” Ambassador Yu said.
Highlighting measurable outcomes, the ambassador detailed China’s progress in pollution control, conservation, and renewable energy expansion.
“China became the first developing country to implement systematic PM2.5 pollution control, established the world’s largest national park system, and contributed one-quarter of the globe’s newly increased green area. Every patch of green across China vividly testifies to our practice of ecological civilization,” he said.
He added that China has maintained global leadership in renewable energy capacity and production.
“For ten consecutive years, China has ranked first globally in installed capacity for photovoltaic and wind power and supplies over 80% of the world’s photovoltaic components and 70% of wind power equipment. These figures demonstrate that China is not just an advocate but a down-to-earth implementer in climate governance,” he said.
Ambassador Yu further disclosed that China’s international climate efforts span over 100 countries and regions, contributing significantly to global employment in the renewable energy sector.
Concluding, he reaffirmed China’s intention to strengthen bilateral ties with Nigeria through environmental cooperation.
“China will unwaveringly pursue a path of green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, continue to contribute wisdom and solutions to global green development, and work hand in hand with countries around the world.
“Together with Nigeria, we can paint a beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, making the Niger River clearer, the Gulf of Guinea bluer, and ensuring the green bond of China-Nigeria friendship endures for generations,” he said.
