Joint press release of the 4th EU-China High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate

  Beijing, 24 Jul (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans held the fourth EU-China High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate in Beijing on 4 July 2023.

  The dialogue focused on ways to cooperate in promoting the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Kunming-Montreal Framework).

  The two sides fully recognize the need for the EU-China High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate to continue to achieve practical results.

  The two sides believe that green should be the most distinctive background color of China-EU cooperation, and reaffirm that challenges such as climate change, desertification, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss are intertwined and pose an existential threat to mankind and the earth. The two sides discussed key issues such as China-EU environmental and climate policies and actions, deepening bilateral environmental and climate cooperation, and jointly advancing global multilateral processes.

  Noting that the impacts of climate change represent a great challenge to achieving sustainable development, the two sides reaffirmed that a temperature increase of 1.5°C would have a much smaller impact than 2°C, and agreed to intensify efforts to achieve the temperature control targets of the Paris Agreement. Broad international cooperation should be carried out in accordance with the principles and objectives of the Paris Agreement to promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two sides appreciated the outcome of the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), will support the UAE Presidency of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to host a successful COP, and agree to strengthen actions and cooperation to promote respective and global "implementation" efforts.

  In view of this, the two sides agreed that a successful COP28 must make comprehensive and balanced progress in all areas. The two sides will work together to contribute to this end, starting with co-chairing the Climate Action Ministerial Meeting with Canada in Brussels in mid-July 2023.

  The two sides recognize that biodiversity loss poses an existential threat to national and global food security. The two sides highly appreciate the adoption of the "Kunmon Framework" by the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), which clarifies the 2050 global long-term goals and the 2030 global action targets to protect and restore nature. The two sides commit to take swift action to implement the Kun-Meng Framework domestically and globally, including the submission of updated national biodiversity conservation strategies and action plans or national targets by COP16 in line with the Kun-Mongolia Framework. China will continue to play the leading role of the COP15 presidency and is willing to work with the EU to actively promote the complete and effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunmeng Framework.

  The two sides identified circular economy, biodiversity, chemicals management, plastic pollution, national carbon markets, climate adaptation, methane emission control, and clean energy transition (renewable energy, grid stabilization, energy storage, hydrogen energy) as key areas of cooperation. The two sides will build on and expand their existing cooperation to contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 15.2 and the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use. The two sides look forward to strengthening cooperation on the construction of emissions trading systems, agree to hold dialogues on the carbon border adjustment mechanism, understand and respond to China's concerns, and hold the first high-level dialogue on circular economy, reaffirming their commitment to intensify efforts to transition to a circular economy at the domestic and international levels. The two sides also agreed to hold the EU-China Environmental Policy Dialogue and the EU-China Water Dialogue.

  In this spirit, the two sides agreed to cooperate towards the adoption of a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. The two sides are committed to marine protection, congratulate the completion of the negotiation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and will continue to strengthen communication and coordination on ratification and implementation. The two sides reaffirmed that they will promote the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources in accordance with the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and continue discussions on the establishment of a representative marine protected area system in waters around Antarctica.

  The Vice Premier of the State Council of China and the Executive Vice President of the European Commission reaffirmed their respective commitments and efforts in addressing climate change and protecting the environment, and resolved to cooperate in areas of common interest, and reported back at the upcoming EU-China Summit. The two sides stressed the need to make full use of the China-EU High-level Dialogue Platform on Environment and Climate to hold regular high-level dialogue meetings, strengthen communication and coordination between the two sides, and deepen cooperation in key areas.