It is the first time the exhibition will be displayed in Beijing for a longer period of time. Organized by the German think-tank adelphi and the Chinese Society for Sustainable Development (CSSD) with support of the German Federal Foreign Office, the exhibition illustrates the growing impact of environmental changes, with respect to China and globally.
The exhibition shows how environmental degradation and resource scarcity can spark conflicts and create security threats. At the same time, it highlights the role that environmental cooperation and sustainable development can play in fostering peace and stability. Both outcomes are possible: increasing conflict or peace and stability. The exhibition thus promotes the importance of cooperative efforts to promote sustainable resources management in the areas of water, livelihoods, natural resources, climate and energy.
A section of the exhibition deals with the specific challenges that China is facing as a result of environmental degradation and climate change. For example, agricultural productivity is estimated to decrease with accelerated desertification, partly a result of climate change. However, the Chinese government has taken important steps to cope with these challenges, transforming its economic structure and development pattern.
This touring exhibition has so far been travelling to and shown in more than 30 cities worldwide, including Jinan, Kunming, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing in China. It is part of a joint climate diplomacy initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office and adelphi, a leading Berlin-based think tank for applied research, policy analysis, and consultancy on global change issues. Activities in China are rolled out in close cooperation with the Chinese Society for Sustainable Development which is part of the Administration Centre for China`s Agenda 21 and founded with the goal of organizing national sustainable development research programs.
For further information, please see also ecc-exhibition.org.
In some areas of the world, including Central America, rising sea levels and declining agricultural productivity due to climate change are expected to trigger major migratory flows, especially within countries. The role of policy-makers is it to promote local solutions while engaging in regional cooperation for a preventative approach.
What outcomes do the agreements achieved at COP24 hold for cities and regions? Despite the decisive part the so-called non-state actors play in achieving the international climate goals, their role hasn't been formally recognized by the UNFCCC.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, concluded in October 2016, has entered into force on January 1st, 2019. Its 65 signatories are now on the fast track to significantly reducing the use of harmful greenhouse gases in the production of cooling devices, representing a major step towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. After a season of unsatisfying climate negotiations, the amendment's implementation marks a time of action and reminds the international community why climate diplomacy ultimately pays off.
In many ongoing armed conflicts, water has been used as a weapon of war, but it can also be a strong instrument of peace.