The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) recently concluded in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The meeting reached the "UAE Consensus" on the first global stocktake of the Paris Agreement, mitigation, adaptation, finance, loss and damage, just transition and other issues, and issued a strong call to the international community to address climate change and need all countries to work together to accelerate action, which is an important milestone.
The conference completed the first global stocktake since the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, summarized the achievements and gaps, further consolidated the global irreversible trend of green and low-carbon transformation, helped countries accelerate their actions on climate change, and opened a new chapter in the process of global climate governance.
At the conference, all parties also agreed on important issues such as the launch of loss and damage**, and achieved breakthroughs in the framework of the global adaptation goals and the work programme on the just transition pathway. The outcome of the conference demonstrates the current efforts of the international community to jointly address climate change, and generally reflects the willingness of all parties to show more flexibility and constructiveness in addressing climate change, and reflects the upholding of multilateralism.
The fight against climate change must be both ambitious and pragmatic, and the key is to deliver on the commitments made. Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the Convention, noted that the global stocktake of the Paris Agreement clearly shows that global climate action is "not fast enough", that the international community must fully implement the Paris Agreement, and that all ** and businesses need to translate their commitments into action "without delay".
In the current process of global climate governance, many concerns of developing countries have not been fully addressed and addressed, and there has always been a gap between the goals and commitments of developed countries and their actions and implementation. Neither the overall target of reducing emissions by 25 to 42 per cent from 1990 levels, nor the commitment of $100 billion a year and technical support to help developing countries, has been fully implemented. Developed countries have an unshirkable historical responsibility for climate change, and must play a leading role in taking the lead in reducing emissions significantly and achieving net-zero emissions as soon as possible, accelerating the speed and intensity of key actions such as energy transition, and fulfilling and effectively increasing the scale and intensity of financial, technological and capacity-building support for developing countries as soon as possible. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged developed countries to fully and transparently implement all commitments made in terms of finance and adaptation.
In the global response to climate change, China has always adhered to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and actively participated in global governance on climate change with the feelings of the world and the responsibility of a major country. China attaches great importance to this conference and has injected a strong impetus into its success.
China has been sparing no effort to implement green and low-carbon transformation with concrete actions. China has contributed 25% of the world's new green area since the beginning of this century, built the world's largest clean power generation system, and ranked first in the world in terms of installed capacity of hydropower, wind power and solar power. Through South-South cooperation and the Green Belt and Road Initiative, China has carried out various forms of support, assistance and cooperation for developing countries in addressing climate change. As of November 2023, China has signed 48 memorandums of understanding on South-South cooperation on climate change with 40 developing countries, providing support to other developing countries through cooperation in building low-carbon demonstration zones, carrying out climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and organizing capacity-building training. Botswana's Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Philda Karen, said China has contributed to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience and promote sustainable development by sharing expertise, providing financial support and facilitating technology exchanges.
The process of human society's response to climate change is destined to be a long and difficult road. It is essential to put into practice the goals set out in the Convention and its Paris Agreement and the principles of "common but differentiated responsibilities", as well as the consensus and commitments made at COP28. Countries should work more closely together to do their part to accelerate climate action and build a clean and beautiful world.