2nd European-China Collaboration Forum has been successfully convened

On October 12, Europe-China Climate Collaboration Forum was hosted by Renmin University of China (RUC) and University College Dublin(UCD), and was organized by the National Academy of Development and Strategy （RUC), Confucius institute and Irish Institute of Chinese Studies(UCD), in cooperation with Institute of Energy Conversion(UCD), the Institute for Carbon Peak and Neutrality（RUC) , the Institute of Eurasian Studies（RUC) and the Institute of Belt and Road of China International Culture Exchange Center. With the theme of“European-China Collaboration”, discussions were held on promoting green economy transition and climate cooperation, contributing to mutually beneficial cooperation between China and EU. The forum was broadcast in bilateral language by Phoenix Satellite Television the next day, with a cumulative total of 243,000 views.

Sun Zhen, head of the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, reckoned that against the background that the world is facing multiple crises and challenges to global climate governance, China and EU need to promote climate dialogue and cooperation to more make climate governance more stable. “China and EU are active contributors to the multilateral climate process,” he said. “ EU need to take the lead in promoting the comprehensive, balanced, effective and sustained implementation of the Paris Agreement, refrain from unilateralism and protectionism, and reject green barriers. Mankind must cooperate in tackling the climate change crisis and must not split. We should work together to fulfill the commitments of the low-carbon transition.”. Some European countries have recently backtracked on climate policy, raising international concerns. We hope Europe can properly handle the short-term local energy crisis and the long-term global climate crisis, and stick to its climate commitments and obligations.”

United Nations Deputy Executive Secretary on Climate Change, Ovais Sarmad, said that on the issue of climate change, multilateralism and win-win Cooperation are the only options: “Multilateral cooperation is not a choice, but a must.”. The upcoming conference of COP27 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is very important. We must find innovative ways to collectively address the climate problems we face today. We must find solutions that can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What we want to hear is agreement, not disagreement.”

Du Peng, Vice President of RUC, stressed at the forum that China, as the world's largest developing country, attaches great importance to addressing climate change. And it is essential that the international community deals with climate change and strengthens the global partnership as a whole.

“Both China and Europe are mainstays of global climate governance and pioneers in global green development,” Du said. “The China-EU high-level engagement mechanism has played a leading role in promoting bilateral cooperation on climate change.” China and EU send a positive signal, which will help mankind tackle the global climate and environmental challenges and build a clean and beautiful world together. “It is not enough for one country to tackle the challenges of global climate change. Only by working together can we create a better future, for ourselves, for our healthy ageing life, for the next generation and for many more.”