The COP of Action – Marrakech Climate Change Conference

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on November 4 to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the taking effect of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Xi said in the letter that the Paris Agreement had become one of the fastest international accords in history to come into force, so delivering a positive signal of international cooperation in tackling climate change. The Paris Agreement thus ushers in a new phase of international cooperation on fighting global warming. China, which upholds a development concept that highlights innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, will act positively and forcefully in promoting a low-carbon, recycling economy, and combating climate change.

Ban Ki-moon has mentioned on various occasions China’s historic, fundamental and pivotal contributions to the conclusion of the Paris Agreement. “Throughout the whole process, the Chinese government has made critical contributions,” Xie Zhenhua said, having acknowledged Ban’s comments in this respect.

Xie went on to say that in order to implement the agreement’s programs and arrangements, the Chinese government would negotiate and communicate with various negotiating blocs and strive to make decisions during the Marrakech Conference to bring the Paris Agreement into effect.

Voice of China

On November 1, China published its 2016 annual report on policies and actions on climate change, expounding China’s actions and achievements in eight aspects. They are: mitigation of climate change, adaption to climate change, low-carbon pilots and demonstrations, strategic planning and institutional improvements, strengthening capacity building, broad participation, promoting international negotiation, and strengthening international exchanges and cooperation.

According to the report, during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011 to 2015), China’s carbon intensity fell 20 percent compared to that over the previous five years, so surpassing the country’s goal of 17 percent. During the latest five-year period the energy structure in China has been optimized, the consumption of non-fossil fuels having increased to 12 percent of the total energy consumption, so surpassing the original target of 11.4 percent. Forest growing stock also increased to 15.137 billion cubic meters, so achieving the goal set for 2020. Moreover, as at last September, a quota equivalent to 120 million tons of carbon dioxide was imposed on seven pilot carbon emission trading markets, with an accumulated transaction volume of more than RMB 3.2 billion.

Xie Zhenhua, China’s Special Representative on Climate Change Affairs, addresses the opening ceremony on November 14, 2016 of a High-level Forum of South-South Cooperation on Climate Change during the recent COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco.

“Such progress highlights China’s resolution to tackle climate change through real actions,” Xie Zhenhua said. According to him, China hoped that all parties would keep to common but differentiated responsibilities during the conference negotiation process, and cooperatively and pragmatically participate in new climate governance. China hoped the conference might achieve positive progress in formulating a follow-up roadmap and schedule in the wake of the Paris Agreement, so encouraging all parties to positively implement Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), enhancing actions to address climate change before 2020, and offering aid to developing countries as regards funds, technologies and capacity building.

Xie said that the Marrakech Climate Change Conference should mainly solve several questions. First, we need to enhance actions addressing climate change before 2020, and make sure that the consensus reached and the commitments made in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Doha Amendment are honored. Second, we need to clarify how all countries will fulfill their INDC, because in order to convene the facilitative dialogue in 2018 we need a clear picture of what all countries have done in this respect. Third, we will hold a series of negotiations to devise detailed implementation plans for the Paris Agreement. All parties need to make specific arrangements for the negotiations. The Paris Agreement will be carried out through a series of mechanisms and systems. The fourth topic, of particular concern to developing countries, is that of developed countries’ actual fulfillment of their commitments to offer aid to developing countries, as regards funds, technologies and capacity building. We need to show everyone exactly how much in funds developed countries have offered, where it went, what has been done with it, and what results it has so far achieved. Fifth, the ultimate approach to implementing the Paris Agreement is that of promoting sustainable, green and low-carbon development, and the Marrakech Conference made appropriate arrangements in this regard.

During the conference, the Chinese Pavilion presented 17 side events, including forums and press conferences themed on climate change and rural development, China’s low-carbon development strategy, and South-South Cooperation. According to Xie Ji, deputy chief of Chinese delegation to the COP22 in Marrakech, their goal is to showcase China’s achievements and experience of ecological management and improvement of human welfare, promote exchanges and learning from one another, and make China’s voice heard worldwide.

“The Marrakech Conference was one of action,” Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Lu Xinming said. Lu believes that all parties anticipate strengthened action before 2020 and enhanced mutual trust. The conference will lay foundations for cooperation after 2020, especially as regards finance and an improved capability to fulfill UN Climate Change Convention.

According to Lu, global climate action was the highlight of the conference, so the Paris Agreement’s pattern, procedure and guidelines should be the focus of all parties. The conference set down a schedule for action over the next two years. Besides, interested entities of non-contracting parties, such as cities, enterprises and NGOs, participated in climate change matters, based on the spirit of understanding and support.

According to Gou Haibo, deputy chief of the Chinese delegation to the Marrakech COP22, green development is an international megatrend. China will uphold a development concept highlighting innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, Gou said, underlining that China will act positively and forcefully in maintaining the international mechanism, promoting international cooperation, and combating climate change. China is willing to work with all concerned parties, including the United States, towards promoting relevant mechanisms and collaborations.