Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative to the United Nations: Climate change is a common challenge for mankind and requires global action
On September 23, 2021, the UN Security Council will hold an open debate on climate and security issues. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, pointed out in his speech at the meeting that climate change is a common challenge for mankind and requires global action.
Ambassador Zhang Jun said that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement are the most authoritative platforms for tackling climate change. The principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, fairness and respective capabilities are the cornerstones of global climate governance. We must maintain the status of the “Convention” and the “Paris Agreement” as the main channel, and respect the equal right of all countries to speak on the issue of climate change. China supports the fruitful results of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and promotes the full, effective and continuous implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Ambassador Zhang Jun pointed out that developed countries bear historical responsibility for climate change. No matter which platform or angle the climate change issue is discussed on, one must not forget this basic fact. Developed countries must take the lead in significantly reducing emissions while fulfilling their climate financing commitments. This is the key to achieving global net zero emissions at an early date. The international community should establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the relevant commitments of developed countries are implemented in place.
Ambassador Zhang said that climate change is the product of the unsustainable development model of mankind, and it can be fundamentally solved only if it is coordinated within the framework of sustainable development. Countries should incorporate climate change into their overall national development plans, and organically integrate them with poverty eradication, employment promotion, health protection, and promotion of clean energy, so as to improve resilience to climate change. Conflict countries are relatively weak in mitigating and adapting to climate change. The international community must increase investment to support UN specialized agencies to help conflict countries meet challenges.
Ambassador Zhang Jun emphasized that China has always been a contributor to global climate governance, a leader in the construction of global ecological civilization, and an activist in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. President Xi Jinping announced in the general debate of the 76th UN General Assembly on September 21 that China will strongly support the green and low-carbon development of energy in developing countries and will no longer build new overseas coal power projects. This is another important initiative taken by China to tackle global climate change after President Xi Jinping announced last year that China will strive to achieve carbon peaks by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. It is also China’s initiative to promote global green recovery. Another positive contribution of the People’s Republic of China demonstrates the firm determination and practical actions to build a community of human and natural life. China is willing to take the opportunity of hosting the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to join hands with countries around the world to make new contributions to global environmental governance.