China.org.cn | November 1, 2022
CRI:
Mr. Zhai has mentioned "the building of a green homeland," which I believe is a dream shared by all humanity. As a developing country with over 1.4 billion people, China will influence the world with its efforts to promote the development of ecological civilization. In recent years, what has been done by the MEE in working together for global ecological conservation and promote the development of a human community with a shared future? What achievements have been made? In addition, what measures will be taken next?
Zhai Qing:
Thank you for your questions. From the perspective of building a human community with a shared future, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed jointly building a clean and beautiful world and promoting sustainable global development. Last year, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forth the Global Development Initiative (GDI), calling for efforts to achieve stronger, greener, and healthier global development, which has provided the fundamental basis and a guide to action for us to actively engage in global environmental governance.
As an important participant, contributor and trailblazer in global ecological conservation, we have been firmly committed to putting multilateralism into action and promoting a fair and equitable system of global environmental governance for win-win cooperation, making contributions to the sustainable development of humanity.
First, we have made positive progress in developing the green Belt and Road. We have proposed and established the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) International Green Development Coalition. We have strengthened policy dialogue, joint research and capacity building with BRI participants, and incorporated the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into the joint development of the BRI. More than 150 cooperation partners from over 40 countries have joined the coalition. We have launched the BRI Big Data Service Platform on Ecological and Environmental Protection, enhancing innovation and exchanges of ecological and environmental protection technologies. We have implemented the Green Silk Road Envoys Program and trained 3,000 (person-time) environmental officials, experts, and scholars from over 120 countries. This aims to build consensus on and form synergy for promoting green development.
Second, we have deeply engaged in global environmental governance. We have consistently promoted the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. General Secretary Xi Jinping has solemnly announced China's goal of striving to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. We have strongly supported the developing countries' green and low-carbon energy transition and promised not to develop new coal-fired power generation projects overseas. We have accepted the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and tightened regulations over the emission of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.
We have actively implemented the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocol. Over the past decade, the implementation of the goals of biodiversity protection in China has been better than the global average. We successfully held the first session of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) and issued the Kunming Declaration. President Xi Jinping announced at the meeting that China would take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan and establish a Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support biodiversity protection in developing countries. We have actively charted the course for global biodiversity governance by giving a full play to the chairmanship role.
Third, we have carried out bilateral and multilateral environmental cooperation practically. We have established the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue and actively developed exchange and dialogue mechanisms, including the Environmental Ministers' Meeting of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the ASEAN-China Environment Cooperation Forum. We have strengthened South-to-South cooperation and cooperation with neighboring countries and supported projects and actions in the protection of biodiversity, green economy, the management of chemicals and the implementation of international conventions. As things stand now, these projects and activities have yielded outstanding results. As of June 2022, we have signed 43 cooperative documents on climate change with 38 developing countries. We have helped relevant countries build capacity against climate change by providing them with goods and materials in response to climate change, such as weather satellites, photovoltaic power systems and new energy vehicles.
Next, we will continue to thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and work with all parties to respond to global environmental challenges, contributing China's strengths to building a human community with a shared future. Thank you.