Adhere to multilateralism and work together to address the challenge of climate change
After two weeks of difficult negotiations, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently came to an end in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference completed the first global inventory of the Paris Agreement since its entry into force, summarized the achievements and gaps, and pointed out the direction for the in-depth implementation of the Paris Agreement, especially to further consolidate the global trend of green and low-carbon transformation, which is an important milestone. The conference once again demonstrated that only by practicing true multilateralism and strengthening solidarity and cooperation can we better address the challenge of climate change.
To ensure that global climate governance is on the right track, all parties must adhere to the goals, principles and institutional arrangements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement. More than 130 countries signed declarations on food, agriculture and climate action to address global greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the lives and livelihoods of farmers in areas most affected by climate change...... The series of outcomes of the conference demonstrate the efforts of the international community to work together to address climate change, and also reflect the willingness of all parties to uphold multilateralism and actively demonstrate more flexibility and constructiveness. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, "COP28 can show that in our divided world, multilateralism remains humanity's best hope for tackling global challenges."
Building a fair, reasonable, and win-win global climate governance system is an inevitable requirement for practicing true multilateralism in addressing climate change. Developing countries are the biggest victims of climate change, but in the process of global climate governance, many legitimate concerns of developing countries have not been fully addressed and addressed. The first global stocktake shows that the world has made substantial progress in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, but there is still a gap between the goals, especially the developed countries that bear the greatest responsibility for climate change still have serious gaps in fulfilling their emission reduction obligations and providing financial, technical and capacity-building support to developing countries, and the practical actions to fulfill their climate responsibilities and obligations are still seriously insufficient, and the unilateral measures of relevant countries such as industry and trade have further increased the difficulty of achieving global climate goals. Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, noted that the global stocktake clearly shows that global climate action is not fast enough and that the international community must fully implement the Paris Agreement.
The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the cornerstone of global climate governance and is related to international fairness and justice. During the conference, the importance of the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" was re-emphasized. In terms of emission reduction actions, the Paris Agreement has greatly promoted the global low-carbon transition, but the energy policies of some developed countries have regressed, and fossil energy consumption and carbon emissions have increased instead of decreasing, putting the already fragile global emission reduction prospects in jeopardy. Some developed countries have long failed to take their responsibilities seriously and have been slow to deliver on their commitments, resulting in a serious shortage of support for climate action in developing countries. The international community expects developed countries to earnestly fulfill their obligations to take the lead in reducing emissions and provide financial, technical and capacity-building support to developing countries, so as to promote the comprehensive, balanced and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
To address climate change, we must be ambitious and pragmatic, and promote a green and just transition under the framework of sustainable development and based on the national conditions and capabilities of all countries. Tackling climate change responsibly requires a positive and pragmatic approach, with empty slogans, detached from reality and "one size fits all", which may seem ambitious but in fact undermine the multilateral process on climate change. All parties should work together to promote effective coordination between climate change and poverty eradication, energy security, job creation, and economic development, and pragmatically promote the global transition to a green, low-carbon, and climate-resilient society.
China has taken actively responding to climate change as an intrinsic requirement for achieving its own sustainable development, deepened South-South cooperation on climate change, and actively participated in the multilateral process on climate change, fully demonstrating its responsibility as a major country. During the conference, China fully and deeply participated in consultations on various issues, closely coordinated with the UAE presidency and other parties, firmly upheld the common interests of developing countries, provided solutions to key issues in the negotiations, promoted convergence among all parties and made important contributions to the positive outcome of the conference, which is a manifestation of China's practice of true multilateralism.
Climate change is about the well-being and future of all humankind. Tackling climate change requires all parties to turn their vision into reality. As a responsible major developing country, China will strengthen cooperation with all parties to jointly address climate change, improve global climate governance, and protect the common home of mankind.
