Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows wind turbines in Jiucaiping scenic spot in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

COLOMBO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 has reactivated the global race to de-carbonize and tackle climate change, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Friday.

Attending the Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum 2021 via zoom link, Rajapaksa said emerging economies are challenged with prioritizing energy security while also reducing carbon emissions.

Attendees take photos during the Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum 2021 in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Sept. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Chai Ting)

"I would like to call upon the international community to seriously consider equitable climate financing to compensate for the large-scale damage that many smaller countries have already suffered. That damage includes the loss of human life and the destruction of their rich bio-diversity," the Sri Lankan prime minister said.

The prime minister said his government's goal is to generate 80 percent of Sri Lanka's energy through renewable sources by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Mahouts bathe elephants that are going to participate in a pageant at a park in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)

He said that small countries like Sri Lanka have contributed the least to climate change but face the biggest consequences.

"The urgent need now is to uphold the commitments we have made towards 'net-zero' emissions, and thereby protect our people and the environment. With such collective action, we will be able to achieve our targets of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions as well as reduce the impact of climate change on our people," the prime minister added.■