As a result of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's ongoing visit to Brazil, China and Brazil Tuesday signed a joint statement on addressing the climate change issue together for a common vision of sustainable development.
According to the statement, both sides recognize that climate change and its adverse effects are the common concern of humankind and one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century, which need to be addressed through international cooperation in the context of sustainable development.
As the world's major developing countries, China and Brazil have undertaken ambitious actions domestically on climate change in such areas as energy efficiency, renewable energy, the forest sector, agriculture and industry. Both sides intend to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy matrices.
The two reaffirmed their commitment to reaching a balanced, comprehensive, equitable and ambitious agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol at the UN Climate Conference to be held in Paris later this year. China and Brazil will work together with other parties, in particular with other BASIC countries which group Brazil, South Africa, India and China, towards this goal, in full accordance with the principles equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
For the complete article, please see Ministry of Environmental Protection.
How might a single threat, even one deemed unlikely, spiral into an evolving global crisis which challenges the foundations of global security, economic stability and democratic governance, all in the matter of a few weeks?
The former lead climate negotiator for the UK and the EU, Peter Betts, welcomes the decision to move COP26 to 2021 and discusses what is needed from the postponed climate summit.
Paris and Berlin have added their names to a growing list of EU capitals asking for the European Green Deal to be placed at the heart of the EU’s post-pandemic recovery plan.
Greenhouse gas emissions are down and air quality has gone up, as governments react to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, has cautioned against viewing this as a boon for the environment. In this First Person editorial from UN News, Ms. Andersen calls instead for a profound, systemic shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet.