China-EU Climate Cooperation Key to 2024 Partnership, Report Says

A new report released on May 3 by four Chinese think tanks recommends that China and the European Union (EU) prioritize cooperation on environment and climate issues as a key driver of their comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024. The report, titled "China-EU Cooperation on Environment and Climate: Progress and Prospects," emphasizes the importance of the two sides working together to address ecological challenges and promote sustainable development.

Why this matters: The cooperation between China and the EU on climate issues has significant implications for the global effort to combat climate change, as these two economic powers can drive meaningful progress and set an example for other nations. Moreover, their partnership can also foster innovation and economic growth in the green sector, creating new opportunities for businesses and communities worldwide.

The report was jointly released by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the National Energy Conservation Center, the Xinhua Institute, and the Institutes of Science and Development under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It notes that as the largest developing country and the largest union of developed countries respectively, China and the EU"must shoulder their responsibilities, carry outcooperation on the environmentand climate, and work together to maintain sustainable development of the Earth."

The report highlights the significance of green cooperation, stating that it "not only enriches and develops the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, but also directly advances the environmental governance, trade and investment of both sides, benefiting the entire world." It calls for strengthening the green partnership between China and the EU, making it a new engine for their bilateral cooperation across multiple areas.

Looking ahead, the report recommends that China and the EU promote more in-depth and pragmatic cooperation, dovetail their environmental and climate policies through high-level dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, establish a long-term cooperation framework, and jointly promote global environmental governance and climate action. Specific areas highlighted for strengthening dialogue and exchanges include clean energy, advanced energy-saving and carbon-reducing technology, green transportation, green buildings, methane, marine litter, pollution reduction, carbon reduction, circular economy, environmental technology, and environmental trade.

The report also suggests launching the China-EU Green Action to strengthen coordination in fields like digital economy and artificial intelligence. It calls for enhancing triangular cooperation, such as "EU-China+Southeast Asia" or "EU-China+Africa" cooperation, and exploring new forms of China-EU cooperation through South-South cooperation on climate change and the green Belt and Road Initiative. Cooperation projects should be designed to address both environmental and climate issues, considering the dual tasks of pollution control and carbon reduction faced by developing countries.

The report titled "China-EU Cooperation on Environment and Climate: Progress and Prospects" was released globally on May 3, 2023, by four Chinese institutions. It emphasizes the importance of environment and climate cooperation between China and the EU in addressing ecological challenges and promoting sustainable development. The report calls for strengthening the bilateral green partnership and making green cooperation a key driver of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024.

Key Takeaways

• China and EU should prioritize environment and climate cooperation in 2024.
• Joint efforts can drive global progress on climate change and sustainable development.
• Green cooperation can foster innovation, economic growth, and new opportunities.
• Report recommends strengthening bilateral green partnership and cooperation mechanisms.
• Specific areas for cooperation include clean energy, green transportation, and pollution reduction.