China as COP21 Bridge Between Developed and Developing Countries

Summary: China emerges as a critical COP21 bridge between developed and developing countries at the UN's 21st annual climate change meeting, Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Representative for Climate Change: U.S. State Department, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

At the 21st annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known as COP21, held in Paris from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2015, China has emerged as a critical COP21 bridge between developed and developing countries.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 8, Xie Zhenhua, China’s Special Representative for Climate Change, appeared with ministers from Brazil, India and South Africa to report favorably on the progress of the second week of climate change meetings at Paris’ Le Bourget Centre. The negotiations of the first week produced a workable document on Saturday, Dec. 5. The conference’s second week gathers together ministers from the different countries and aims to craft a realistic agreement by COP21’s last day on Saturday, Dec. 12.

A veteran of nine climate change conferences, Xie noted the constructive, supportive manner exhibited by ministers during the first two days in balancing national interests within the context of a successful outcome for the conference.

Xie positively assessed that “I believe that we can find a comprehensive and ambitious, legally binding agreement with no person leaving [sic] behind.”

Framing an acceptable climate finance plan will be critical to the success of COP21. In his comfortable emergence as COP21 bridge between developed and developing countries, Xie has called for ambitious involvement by all participating countries. At Tuesday’s press briefing, Xie urged developed countries to honor key financial pledges and also invited the private sector to become involved in the climate finance process.

Xie emphasized the need for developed countries to “scale up their financial contributions based on USD $100 billion up to the year 2020, while developing countries, on a voluntary basis, they can contribute through South-South cooperation model.”

Since 2011, China has been participating actively in the South-South cooperation (SSC) model promoted by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation to encourage resource sharing and financial support among developing countries of the South. China has used the model for investments of around USD $44 million and for resources and training dedicated to low-carbon technology projects in developing countries.

Xie shared the perspective gained from China’s experience as a newly developing country. The issuing of Beijing’s first-ever red alert, the highest in the four-level air pollution system, on Monday, Dec. 7, reveals the need to stress low-carbon technology and emphasizes the connection between solving “the environmental issue and working to address climate change.”

Xie noted: “It’s normal that industrial countries . . . undergoing industrialization will be suffering from pollution problems, like London, like Los Angeles in the past.”

As a newly industrializing country, China has partnered with Brazil, India and South Africa in the BASIC bloc, a geopolitical alliance formed on Nov. 28, 2009, ten days after the conclusion of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. BASIC aims for common ground in climate change finance and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

China also is a member of the Group of 77 (G77), the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations. Now totaling 134 member countries, G77 focuses on collective economic interests and promotes development via the South-South cooperation (SSC) model for developing countries of the South.

In his comfortable emergence as a COP21 bridge between developed and developing countries, Xie stressed the step-by-step process of securing a successful agreement based on previous commitments and allowing for expansion of future goals.

“In China we have a saying that even if you want to cover 1,000 miles, you need to start from the first step. Therefore, we need to pin down the actions before 2020. . . .We need to honor those commitments.” Xie added: “Post to 2020, I think we can see more ambition.”

Newly industrializing China emerges as COP21 bridge between developed and developing countries: SCMP News @SCMPNews via Twitter Dec. 6, 2015

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Representative for Climate Change: U.S. State Department, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xie_Zhenhua_2014.jpg

Newly industrializing China emerges as COP21 bridge between developed and developing countries: SCMP News @SCMPNews via Twitter Dec. 6, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/SCMPNews/status/673728697019604992

For further information:

Browne, Andrew. "China's About-Face in Climate Talks." The Wall Street Journal > World > Asia > China's World. Dec. 8, 2015.
Available @ http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-about-face-in-climate-talks-1449557586

"China, Brazil, India, South Africa: Press briefing with Ministers." UNFCCC Webcast On-Demand Meta-Fusion > COP21 Events. Dec. 8, 2015.
Available @ http://unfccc6.meta-fusion.com/cop21/events/2015-12-08-14-00-china-brazil-india-south-africa-press-briefing-with-ministers

China Xinhua News @XHNews. "Video: #COP21 #BASIC stand for equitable climate deal with differentiated responsibilities." Twitter. Dec. 8, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/674487528951418880

Marriner, Derdriu. "Hazardous Air Pollution Levels Trigger Orange Alert for Beijing." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/12/hazardous-air-pollution-levels-trigger.html

SCMP News @SCMPNews. "Paris climate talks: Activists urge China to bridge climate divide #COP21." Twitter. Dec. 6, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/SCMPNews/status/673728697019604992