Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, shakes hands with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry ahead of their talks in Beijing on July 17, 2023. Photo: VCG

During the upcoming COP28 climate conference, China and the US will hold a "methane and non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas summit" with the UAE chair, to which other countries are invited to participate.

The two sides will continue dialogue and exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation on key issues, actively participate in the first global inventory of the Paris Agreement and work with other parties to promote positive and pragmatic results at the conference, Xia Yingxian, director of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, told the media on Monday.

At the end of November, world leaders will gather in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, during which the parties will conduct the first global inventory since the Paris Agreement. It is hoped that this conference will send a positive signal to the international community to focus on action and cooperation and create more favorable conditions for the global response to climate change.

Departing Thursday, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will be in the UAE on a three-day trip for the conference. Ding's attendance will demonstrate China's positive response to climate change and cement the traditional friendship between China and the UAE, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Friday.

According to US media on Sunday, US President Joe Biden will not attend COP28, which begins on Thursday. 

Talking about expectations for COP28, Xia said he hoped that the results of the inventory would bring confidence and hope to the international community to implement the Paris Agreement and ensure that global climate governance moves forward on the right track.

The first global inventory of the Paris Agreement is of great significance as it is an opportunity to build on past achievements and future achievements. All parties have high expectations for the outcomes of the global inventory.

According to Xia, in 2022, China's carbon emissions were down by more than 51 percent from 2005, and non-fossil energy accounted for 17.5 percent of energy consumption. By the end of June 2023, the number of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the country reached 16.2 million, accounting for more than half of the world's NEVs. China's active actions to address climate change have not only promoted the country's green and low-carbon development, but also made important contributions to addressing global climate change, he said.

Additionally, China will continue to carry out South-South cooperation on climate change. China will, within its capacity, increase support for other developing countries, including African countries, small island states and least developed countries, in addressing climate change, promoting the construction of low-carbon demonstration zones and designing innovative climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. The forms and content of capacity-building training will be enriched to support relevant developing countries in enhancing their capacity to cope with climate change, Xia said.

Xia also stressed that all parties should adhere to UN-centered multilateralism and reject unilateral measures in any form. The conference should adhere to the objectives, principles and institutional arrangements of the Convention and the Paris Agreement, and ensure that global climate governance stays on the right track for a long time to come. COP28 should promote effective coordination between the needs of addressing climate change and poverty eradication, energy security, job creation and economic development, and pragmatically promote a just global transition to a green, low-carbon and climate-resilient society, he noted.

At present, the trend of unilateralism, protectionism and anti-globalization continues to intensify. In the name of climate, some developed countries have set up green barriers, introduced discriminatory laws, engaged in technological blockages and cooperation restrictions, and advocated decoupling, chain cutting and de-risking. This will greatly push up the cost of global emission reduction and hollow out the foundation of an effective global response to climate change. COP28 should send out a strong signal of promoting cooperation on climate change and create a positive atmosphere of unity and cooperation for the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement, Xia said.

Global Times