Work Together to Tackle Climate Change and Make Our Planet a Better Home for All--Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the APPCG Webinar on China-UK Cooperation on Tackling Climate Change　　

尊敬的英国议会跨党派中国小组主席格雷厄姆先生，　　

尊敬的英国议会下院环境监察委员会主席邓恩先生，　　

尊敬的英国外交发展部COP26区域大使布里斯托爵士，　　

尊敬的各位议员，　　

女士们、先生们：　　

Chairman Graham,

Chairman Dunne,

Sir Laurie,

My Lords and MPs,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

很高兴再次与英国议会跨党派中国小组各位议员座谈。我们今天座谈的主题是中英气候变化合作。2021年将是气候变化合作之年，中英将分别主办《生物多样性公约》第15次缔约方会议（COP15）和《联合国气候变化框架公约》第26次缔约方会议（COP26），这将是中英关系的大事，也将对全球气变合作和环境治理产生重要影响。　　　

It is a real delight to join you again at the APPCG webinar. Today we will focus on China-UK cooperation on climate change.

The year 2021 will be an important year for joint global response to climate change. China and the UK will host COP15 and COP26 respectively. These are not only important events in China-UK relations but also bear great significance to global cooperation and governance on climate change and environmental protection.

当前，新冠肺炎疫情在全球蔓延，气候变化问题持续升温。我认为，人类社会正面临与气候变化紧密相关的五大挑战：

Against the background of the raging Covid-19 pandemic, tackling climate change has become an increasingly urgent task. Mankind faces five major challenges of climate change.

一是全球变暖挑战。目前全球平均温度已比工业化前高出1摄氏度以上,全球海平面上升速度达到每年5毫米。未来，一些地区可能不再适宜居住。　

The first challenge is global warming.

Global average temperature is now more than one degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The global sea level rise has averaged 5 millimeters per year in recent years. In the future, some places may no longer be suitable for people to live in.　

二是生态环境挑战。人类工业化进程创造了前所未有的物质财富，也产生了严重环境污染，生物多样性面临严峻挑战。　

The second challenge is deterioration of the eco-environment.

While creating unprecedented wealth, industrialization has caused serious pollution and posed severe challenges to biodiversity.

三是新冠疫情叠加挑战。疫情客观上削弱了各国对应对气候变化问题的关注。COP15和COP26不得不推迟举行。　

The third challenge is Covid-19.

This pandemic has drawn many countries' attention away from climate change. COP15 and COP26 have to be postponed.

四是应对能力不平衡挑战。与发达国家相比，发展中国家受到气候变化冲击影响更大。国际社会消除南北发展不平衡、凝聚应对气候变化合力依然任重道远。

The fourth challenge is the imbalance in response capacity.

Compared with developed countries, the impact of climate change on developing countries is more severe.

It remains a daunting task for the international community to redress the imbalance of development between the North and the South and to get everyone on board to tackle climate change.

五是毁约退群挑战。个别国家悍然退出《巴黎协定》，这种单边霸凌行径使全球气变合作和治理遭受严重挫折。　　

不久前，习近平主席在出席联合国成立75周年高级别活动中宣布，中国将提高国家自主贡献力度，采取更加有力的政策和措施，二氧化碳排放力争于2030年前达到峰值，努力争取2060年前实现碳中和。这是中国基于国内可持续发展内在要求和构建人类命运共同体的责任担当，彰显了中国积极应对气候变化的坚定决心。国际社会对此予以高度评价。约翰逊首相称，习主席宣布的目标是一件了不起的事情，是向世界发出的强有力信号。中英是应对气候变化和环境治理的重要伙伴，双方合作大有可为。　

The fifth challenge is the withdrawal from international treaties and organisations.

A certain country withdrew from the Paris Agreement. Such a unilateral and bullying move has led to severe setbacks in global cooperation and governance on climate change.

Last month, at a high-level UN meeting in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN, President Xi Jinping announced that China will

• scale up its nationally determined contributions,

• adopt even more forceful policies and measures,

• and strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

This is an attestation to China's audacity to take up the responsibilities in line with the requirements of sustainable domestic development and the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind. It is a display of China's firm resolve to make an active response to climate change.

This announcement has been highly commended by the international community. In the words of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this is "fantastic" and "a powerful signal to the world".

China and the UK are important partners in climate change response and environmental governance. There is enormous potential for closer cooperation between our two countries.

一是共同做气变治理的领军者。中国积极落实应对气候变化国家战略，切实履行《巴黎协定》国际义务。2005年至2019年，中国单位GDP碳排放下降48.1%，非化石能源占比达15.3%，新能源汽车保有量占全球一半以上。英国确立了到2050年实现“净零排放”的目标。中英可以充分利用主办COP15和COP16两次会议之机，为全球气变治理发挥重要引领作用。习近平主席和约翰逊首相就两国加强COP15和COP26相互协调、相互支持达成重要共识。中国生态环境部部长黄润秋与夏尔马大臣，我本人与夏尔马大臣、布里斯托爵士等保持密切沟通。双方还在工作层建立了联合工作组。下一步，双方要加强沟通协调，调动政府、议会、商界、媒体、学界等各界人士积极性，确保两次大会办得精彩、取得成功。

First, China and the UK can join hands and be the champions of global governance on climate change.

China has taken vigorous efforts to implement its National Climate Change Strategy and to fulfill its international obligations under the Paris Agreement.

• From 2005 to 2019, China's carbon emissions per unit GDP dropped by 48.1%.

• The proportion of non-fossil fuel in total energy consumption increased to 15.3%.

• And China has more than half of the world's new energy vehicles.

The UK has set the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Hosting COP15 and COP26 respectively will enable China and the UK to play a leading role in promoting global governance on climate change.

President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have reached important political consensus on stepping up coordination and mutual support in hosting COP15 and COP26 respectively.

There have been close communications between Minister of Ecology and Environment of China Huang Runqiu and Secretary Alok Sharma.

I myself have stayed in touch with Secretary Sharma and Sir Laurie Bristow, the UK Government's COP26 Regional Ambassador.

At the working level, a China-UK joint working group has been set up.

Going forward, our two sides should enhance communication and coordination, and fully engage the governments, legislatures, business community, media and academia, so as to make these two conferences successful.

二是共同做绿色发展的推动者。疫情形势下，中国政府统筹推进疫情防控与经济社会发展，推广绿色生产和生活方式，加速完善气候投融资体系。英国在清洁能源、低碳技术等方面独具特色。中英应加强在新能源、低碳城市等领域合作，实现生态环境保护和经济高质量发展双赢。中国在核能等清洁能源领域技术成熟，运营管理经验丰富。欣克利角核电站是中英法在清洁能源领域合作的重要旗舰项目，建成后可满足英国7%的电力需求，每年可以减排900万吨二氧化碳。双方应共同努力确保该项目顺利成功。我们还应鼓励两国产业界在可再生能源、绿色金融、绿色“一带一路”等领域加强合作，助力两国绿色复产，带动全球绿色复苏。　　

Second, China and the UK can join hands and be the promoters of green development.

Against the ravaging epidemic, the Chinese Government has taken a coordinated approach to economic and social development. We have lost no time in promoting green production and green way of life, and improving the system of climate finance and investment.

The UK has unique strength in clean energy and low-carbon technology.

It is important that China and the UK enhance cooperation in new energy and low-carbon cities. These will enable us to achieve win-win results in both ecological conservation and high-quality economic growth.

China has mature technology and rich experience in the operation and management of clean energy, such as nuclear energy. The Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is a flagship project of China-UK cooperation on clean energy. Upon completion, it will meet 7% of the UK's total demand for electricity and help reduce 9 million tons of CO2 emissions every year. This project is completely in the common interests of both sides. We should work together to make it a success.

Our two countries should also encourage closer cooperation between our industries in renewable energy, green finance and green Belt and Road. This will help boost green recovery in both our two countries and the rest of the world.

三是共同做绿色创新的开拓者。中英都在积极推动绿色科技、能源、金融创新发展。两国签署了《中英清洁能源合作伙伴关系实施工作计划2019—2020》,共同制定了“一带一路”绿色投资原则，绿色合作潜力巨大。吉利、比亚迪等中资企业积极投资英国，成为两国绿色交通合作的典范。　

Third, China and the UK can join hands and be the pioneers of green innovation.

Both China and the UK are pursuing innovative development in green technology, energy and financial services.

In clean energy, our two countries have signed the Clean Energy Partnership Work Plan for 2019-2020 to step up cooperation on the relevant technologies.

In green finance, China and the UK have signed up to the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road Development. There will be huge potential for cooperation in this aspect.

In green transport, Chinese companies Geely and BYD have actively invested in the UK, becoming shining examples of China-UK cooperation on green transport.

四是共同做多边主义的捍卫者。中英双方应坚定维护多边主义，按照“共同但有区别的责任”，公平和各自能力原则，尽最大努力落实国家自主贡献，共同推动《巴黎协定》全面、平衡、有效实施，帮助发展中国家提升应对气变能力，深化应对气变国际合作，完善气候治理体系，共同引领全球气变治理方向和进程。　

Fourth, China and the UK can join hands and be the defenders of multilateralism.

It is important that China and the UK stand up for multilateralism. Under the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity and respective capabilities, China and the UK should make utmost efforts to

• implement the nationally determined contributions,

• contribute to the comprehensive, balanced and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement,

• help developing countries scale up capacity building,

• deepen international cooperation,

• improve the governance system,

• and chart the course for global governance on climate change.

女士们、先生们，　　

Ladies and Gentlemen:

应对气候变化、保护生物多样性是中英合作的重要领域，也是中英两国作为具有全球影响的大国应肩负的使命。习近平在联合国生物多样性峰会上指出，“我们要站在对人类文明负责的高度，尊重自然、顺应自然、保护自然，探索人与自然和谐共生之路，促进经济发展与生态保护协调统一，共建繁荣、清洁、美丽的世界。”英国议会在英国应对气候变化进程中发挥着重要作用。我衷心期望各位议员继续发挥积极作用，支持中英两国政府、两国企业开展绿色合作，为办好COP15和COP26献计献策，为构建人类命运共同体、共建美好地球家园贡献力量！　　

Tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity are important areas of China-UK cooperation. They are also our mission as major global players.

As President Xi Jinping said at the UN high-level meeting,

(quote) "We need to take up our lofty responsibility for the entire human civilization, and we need to respect Nature, follow its laws and protect it. We need to find a way for man and Nature to live in harmony, balance and coordinate economic development and ecological protection, and work together to build a prosperous, clean and beautiful world." (end quote)

The UK Parliament plays an important part in the UK's response to climate change. It is my sincere hope that you will continue playing a positive role and supporting green cooperation between our governments and businesses. I also look forward to your thoughts and ideas on hosting successful COP15 and COP26.

Let's work together to make greater contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind and making our planet a better home for all!

谢谢！

Thank you!