The 2023 Seminar on the Participation of Social Organizations in Social Governance and the Kick-off Meeting of the Project on Promoting the Development of Social Organizations in the Field of Climate and Gender were held

Supported by the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the European Union) and co-sponsored by the China Association for the Promotion of NGO Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the China Association for the Promotion of International Civil Organizations), the Green Jiangnan Public Environmental Concern Center (hereinafter referred to as "Green Jiangnan") and the Shaanxi Women and Children's Development Foundation, the Seminar on the Participation of Social Organizations in Social Governance and the Kick-off Meeting of the Project for Promoting the Development of Social Organizations in the Field of Climate and Gender was recently held in Suzhou. Nearly 60 representatives from various fields such as governments, social organizations, think tanks, and enterprises attended the meeting.

Huang Haoming, Honorary Chairman of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, Sun Weilin, Executive Vice President of the China Association for the Promotion of Social Organizations and former Director of the NGO Administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Jia Feng, former Director of the Propaganda and Education Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Li Jing, member of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Women's Federation, delivered speeches respectively.

Huang Haoming, Honorary Chairman of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, pointed out in his speech that digital public welfare is booming, social organizations play a significant role in social development, and social organizations need high-quality development, stimulate vitality and play a role. The capacity building of social organizations is a very important issue, as many social organizations are small, lack the ability to provide professional services, and the ability to respond to climate change and environmental disasters needs to be improved. In the process of social governance, social organizations need to take action, mobilize resources from all walks of life at home and abroad, and make new contributions to promoting the harmonious development of society and realizing the great goal of common prosperity in China.

Sun Weilin, executive vice president of the China Association for the Promotion of Social Organizations and former director of the NGO Administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, reviewed the long-standing friendly and cooperative relations between the China Association for the Promotion of Social Organizations and the China Association for the Promotion of Social Organizations, and emphasized that the China Association for the Promotion of Social Organizations has played an incubator role in the process of social organizations "going out" and "bringing in".

Jia Feng, former director of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's Education Center, stressed the importance of environmental groups in China's environmental action. Jia Feng cited environmental protection organizations such as the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and Green Jiangnan as examples to affirm the efforts and achievements of non-governmental environmental protection organizations in addressing climate change and promoting the dual carbon goals. Jia Feng said that at present, China is committed to the widespread formation of green production and lifestyle by 2035, carbon emissions have peaked and steadily decreased, the ecological environment has fundamentally improved, and the goal of Beautiful China has been basically achieved, and China's environmental protection organizations will definitely be able to play an important role in it.

Under the guidance of the Shaanxi Provincial Women's Federation, social organizations such as the Shaanxi Women and Children's Development Foundation have carried out a lot of work and gained relevant experience in project cooperation at home and abroad and the development of issues.

Tao Ran, representative of the EU Delegation to China, said that although the overall size of social organizations is booming, the number of social organizations concerned with gender equality and climate change issues is relatively small, and he looks forward to promoting the development of social organizations in the field of climate and gender to give voice to vulnerable groups and contribute to gender equality and the environment.

Wang Xiangyi, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, spoke at the launching ceremony, sharing the reasons for choosing climate change and gender equality for this project, both internationally and domestically. The implementation of the project to promote the development of social organizations in the field of climate and gender will not only enhance the ability of social organizations to advocate for issues and international communication, and promote their effective participation in social governance, but also build a communication and dialogue platform for multiple stakeholders such as government departments, enterprises, think tanks, media and social organizations, and play the role of social organizations as a bridge. Through this exchange and discussion, it is expected to promote the development of social organizations themselves, cultivate professional talents, and promote their effective participation in social governance.

In the keynote speech session, Wang Xingzhi, Chairman of Zhonghe Rural Development Promotion Center, Deng Guosheng, Dean of the 21st Century Development Research Institute of Tsinghua University and Director of the Digital Philanthropy Research Center of the School of Public Policy and Management, and Feng Hao, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work of Capital University of Economics and Business, respectively shared their wonderful views. Li Xiulan, Technical Director of Sustainable Development of the British Standards Institution, and Yin Lun, Executive Vice President of Yunnan Green Environment Development Foundation and Researcher of the School of Geography and Ecotourism of Southwest Forestry University, shared practical cases, focusing on how enterprises and individuals can cope with the impact of global climate change and the measures taken, and pointed out that women are not only victims of climate change, but also effective actors and promoters of climate change, and a force to be reckoned with in mitigation and adaptation.

The final roundtable forum was chaired by Associate Professor Yin Ying of the School of Politics and Public Administration of Soochow University, Chen Xiaojiang, Vice President of Shaanxi Provincial Association for the Promotion of International Exchange of Social Organizations and former second-level inspector of Shaanxi Women's Federation, Ying Jun, Director of Green Jiangnan, Ni Huan, Chairman of Green Light Year Science Popularization Service Center, Zhou Yicheng, Project Director of Shaanxi Women and Children's Development Foundation, and Ma Lan, General Manager of Autostin Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., served as guests to discuss the theme of "Exploration of Climate Change Response and Gender Equality".

In 2017, the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23) adopted the first Gender Action Plan to support gender-responsive climate action, integrating gender equality and the promotion of women's rights and capacities into climate change discussions and actions. In the process of promoting and integrating climate change and gender equality, we need to let more people know and understand the two issues of climate change and gender equality, and participate in this process to contribute to the sustainable development of society.