Joint Press Release following the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue

Chinese translation follows below / 中文译文如下

The Dialogue focused on the avenues for EU-China cooperation in implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Both sides fully recognized that the HECD must continue to achieve practical results.

Both sides believe that green should be the most distinctive color of EU-China cooperation, and they reiterated that the interconnected challenges of climate change, desertification, pollution and biodiversity loss are an existential threat to humanity and the planet. The discussion included key issues, including respective environmental and climate policies and actions in China and in the EU, deepening bilateral environmental and climate cooperation, and jointly promoting global multilateral processes.

Noting that the impact of climate change is a huge challenge to achieve sustainable development and that the impacts of climate change will be much lower at the temperature increase of 1.5 °C compared with 2 °C, they agreed to strengthen efforts to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goal. In accordance with the principles and goals of the Paris Agreement, extensive international cooperation shall be carried out to advance implementation of the Agreement. Both sides commended the outcomes of UNFCCC COP27 and will provide support to the United Arab Emirates as Presidency of UNFCCC COP28 to host a successful COP. In view of COP 28, they agreed to enhance action and cooperation to advance domestic and global implementation efforts.

In this light, both sides agreed that a successful COP 28 must show comprehensive and balanced progress across all workstreams. The EU and China will undertake joint efforts to contribute to this success, starting by co-chairing the Ministerial on Climate Action in mid-July in Brussels, together with Canada.

Recognising the existential threat of biodiversity loss, including for national and global food security, both sides highly commended the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at CBD COP15, which clearly sets out global goals for 2050 and action targets for 2030 to protect and restore nature. Both the EU and China are committed to take swift action towards implementation of the GBF both domestically and at the global level, including by submitting before COP16 updated national biodiversity strategies, and action plans or national targets in alignment with the GBF. China will continue to demonstrate leadership as COP15 Presidency and will work with the EU to actively promote the complete and effective implementation of the CBD and the GBF.

Circular economy, biodiversity, chemical management, plastic pollution, national carbon markets, climate adaptation, methane emissions management and control and the clean energy transition (renewables, stability of the grid, energy storage, hydrogen) were confirmed as key areas of cooperation. Both sides will build on and expand existing cooperation with a view to contributing to SDG 15.2 and the Glasgow declaration on forests and land use. Both sides look forward to intensifying cooperation on Emission Trading Systems. Both sides agreed to hold a dialogue on CBAM to understand and address Chinese concerns. Both sides agreed to holding the first High Level Dialogue on Circular Economy and reaffirmed the commitment to increase efforts to transition to a circular economy domestically and internationally. They also agreed to hold the Environmental Policy Dialogue and the EU-China Water Policy Dialogue.

In this spirit, both sides agreed to cooperate and work towards the adoption of a global legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. Both sides are committed to marine conservation and congratulate the adoption of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and will continue to strengthen communication and coordination on the ratification and implementation of the Treaty. They reaffirmed their commitment to promote the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources in accordance with the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and to continue the discussion on the establishment of a representative system of marine protected areas in the waters surrounding Antarctica.

The EVP and the Vice-Premier reaffirmed their respective commitments and efforts to fight climate change and protect the environment and resolved to work together in the areas of common interest, with a view to reporting at a forthcoming EU-China Summit. Both sides stressed the need to make full use of the HECD platform and hold regular HECD meetings, in order to strengthen communication and coordination between the two sides and deepen cooperation in key areas.

Read more

• EU cooperation with China on climate change

• Readout of the Fourth EU-China High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue

第四次中欧环境与气候高层对话联合新闻稿

中国国务院副总理丁薛祥和欧盟委员会执行副主席弗兰斯·蒂默曼斯于2023年7月4日在北京举行第四次中欧环境与气候高层对话。

对话聚焦双方在推动《联合国气候变化框架公约》及《巴黎协定》和“昆明－蒙特利尔全球生物多样性框架”（以下简称“昆蒙框架”）实施方面的合作途径。

双方充分认识到中欧环境与气候高层对话必须继续取得务实成果。

双方认为，绿色应成为中欧合作最鲜明的底色，重申气候变化、荒漠化、环境污染、生物多样性丧失等挑战相互交织，对人类和地球构成生存威胁。双方讨论了中欧各自环境和气候政策与行动、深化双边环境与气候合作、携手推进全球多边进程等重点议题。

双方注意到，气候变化的影响是实现可持续发展的巨大挑战，重申1.5℃的气温升幅与2℃相比，气候变化的影响将小得多，同意加强努力实现《巴黎协定》的温控目标。应根据《巴黎协定》的原则目标开展广泛国际合作，推动落实《巴黎协定》。双方赞赏《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十七次缔约方大会（COP27）取得的成果，将支持《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十八次缔约方大会（COP28）主席国阿联酋举办一届成功的缔约方大会，并同意加强行动与合作，推动各自和全球的“落实”努力。

鉴于此，双方一致认为，一个成功的COP28必须在所有领域取得全面、平衡的进展。双方将共同努力为此作出贡献，首先是与加拿大共同主持于2023年7月中旬在布鲁塞尔举行的气候行动部长级会议。

双方认识到生物多样性丧失对国家和全球粮食安全构成生存威胁。双方高度赞赏《生物多样性公约》第十五次缔约方大会（COP15）通过“昆蒙框架”，明确2050年全球长期目标和2030年全球行动目标，以保护和恢复自然。双方承诺迅速采取行动，在国内和全球范围内落实“昆蒙框架”，包括根据“昆蒙框架”在COP16前提交更新的国家生物多样性保护战略与行动计划或国家目标。中方将继续发挥COP15主席国的领导作用，愿同欧方一道，积极推动《生物多样性公约》和“昆蒙框架”的完整有效落实。

双方确认循环经济、生物多样性、化学品管理、塑料污染、国家碳市场、气候适应、甲烷排放管控和清洁能源转型（可再生能源、电网稳定、储能、氢能）为重点合作领域。双方将基于并扩展现有合作，为联合国可持续发展目标15.2和《关于森林和土地利用的格拉斯哥领导人宣言》作出贡献。双方期待加强在碳排放交易系统建设方面的合作，同意就碳边境调节机制开展对话，了解并回应中方关切，以及开展首次循环经济高级别对话，重申致力于在国内和国际层面加大向循环经济转型的努力。双方还同意举行中欧环境政策对话和中欧水资源对话。

本着这种精神，双方同意开展合作，努力在2024年底前通过具有法律约束力的有关塑料污染的国际文书。双方致力于海洋保护，祝贺《〈联合国海洋法公约〉下国家管辖范围以外区域海洋生物多样性的养护和可持续利用协定》谈判完成，将继续就批准和实施加强沟通协调。双方重申将根据《南极海洋生物资源养护公约》促进南极海洋生物资源养护，继续就在南极周边水域设立代表性海洋保护区体系展开讨论。

中国国务院副总理和欧盟委员会执行副主席重申各自在应对气候变化和保护环境方面的承诺和努力，决心在共同关心的领域开展合作，并在即将举行的中国－欧盟领导人会晤上汇报。双方强调要充分利用中欧环境与气候高层对话平台，定期举行高层对话会议，加强双方沟通协调，深化重点领域合作。