You are here: China > Government > SCIO Briefings >

SCIO press conference on 'Responding to Climate Change: China's Policies and Actions' white paper

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, November 2, 2021

Adjust font size:

Shenzhen Satellite TV:

My question is also about COP26. What are China's expectations for the conference? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Thank you. COP26 will be the first time Conference of Parties to be held since the implementation of the Paris Agreement. China believes that this conference should first convey a strong political message on firmly upholding multilateralism and respecting multilateral rules. All parties should implement principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as Nationally Determined Contributions outlined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and contribute to addressing global climate change based on their unique national conditions. China looks forward to working with all parties and making progress at this conference on the following tasks:

First, we hope to complete negotiations on the remaining issues regarding how to implement certain arrangements of the Paris Agreement. It has been nearly six years since the Paris Agreement was reached, but negotiations on various implementation guidelines have yet to be finalized. For example, the implementation arrangements of Article 6, mentioned by a friend from the media just now, still need to be negotiated. The international community has high expectations that the conference will fulfill this task. As the Paris Agreement begins to be fully implemented, the conference should encourage finalizing negotiations on the remaining core issues concerning the implementation guidelines of Article 6. This constitutes the basis and prerequisite for the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement by all parties and is an important symbol of maintaining the international community's trust in multilateral mechanisms.

Second, we hope to make effective progress on issues of financial, technological and capacity-building assistance, which have long been of great concern to developing countries. At the previous conferences, developing nations were disappointed that the financing and adaptation issues that most concern them weren't taken seriously or effectively responded to. They also doubted whether the developed countries were adequately supportive in coping with climate change or merely deflecting emission reduction responsibilities to them. These issues have become one of the biggest obstacles to achieving steadfast progress in the multilateral process. As the Paris Agreement enters official implementation, these issues concern mutual political trust and the practical abilities of developing countries to enact climate action. This Conference of Parties should make arrangements in this regard and advance ambitions in mitigation, adaptation and providing support.

Third, we hope to highlight "implementation" at this conference. We actively call on all parties to earnestly implement the targets and translate them into policies and measures that can be adopted as well as concrete action to be taken. We should avoid turning the setting or raising of targets into empty rhetoric or accusations. For instance, developed countries should bridge the gap in providing $100 billion annually promised financial support as soon as possible – a major issue that concerns mutual trust between developing and developed countries. A number of developed countries, having not yet fulfilled existing promises, are still pushing for higher climate targets. However, all parties should realize that climate goals devoid of action are nothing but a castle in the air, and only through common action and full implementation of the targets and requirements of the Paris agreement, can we effectively deal with the crises and challenges brought by climate change. Thank you.

Xing Huina:

If there are no other questions, today's briefing is hereby concluded. Thanks to our two speakers and friends from the media. Good bye!

Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Wang Qian, Zhang Rui, Huang Shan, Qin Qi, Wang Wei, Dong Qingpei, Zhou Jing, Xiang Bin, Chen Xia, Xu Xiaoxuan, Li Huiru, David Ball, Drew Pittock, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.