Reuters:

I wanted to ask whether there is any possibility that China will consider increasing its target of emissions reduction. So, low emissions reduction by 2020, or 2030, as you said earlier, China is on the target to meet the 2020 suggested amount agreed at Paris, but increasingly given new reports like the IPCC 1.5℃ report and pressure growing on the European Union to consider reducing its target, I wonder whether China is also considering that, under what conditions it might reduce its emissions target. Thank you.

Xie Zhenhua:

The IPCC recently made a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. This report shows that the dangers and impacts of climate change have already happened, and the response to climate change is becoming more and more urgent. It gives us such a clear signal and offers various options. Therefore, Chinese scientists have made great contributions in this regard.

The report put forward that measures must be taken with intensified efforts to limit warming to below 2 °C or 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. And the time is running out. For China, we should accomplish the goals we have already made and strive to do better. For example, as I said just now, two of our 2020 goals have been achieved, and we will continue to work tirelessly to improve this aspect and do a good job. Because doing a good job aims not only to deal with climate change, but also provide an incentive to promote the high-quality development of our domestic economy and society. Therefore, the international community does not need to doubt this, and we will do it seriously.

We hope that developed countries will earnestly honor their commitments. The Paris Agreement enshrines the principle that actions and support must be matched. Actions refer to both mitigation actions and adaptation actions, while support refers to the financial and technical support provided to developing countries by developed countries. As long as the developing countries are provided with financial and technical support to improve their capabilities in all aspects, it is possible for them to take proactive measures. In this sense, therefore, we hope that during the implementation of the Paris Agreement, in the negotiation process of the implementation rules, and in the process of mapping out the future institutional arrangements, the provisions of the Paris Agreement should be seriously implemented, so that all countries in the world can truly establish political mutual trust and take active action to achieve the goals through international cooperation while addressing climate change at different stages. Thank you.

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