Capacity for leadership

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has commended China's efforts in fighting climate change, saying China has shown a clear capacity for climate leadership.

"In the past five years, China has deployed more solar and wind capacity than any other country. More than 50 percent of electric vehicles in the world are sold in China. China also makes 99 percent of the world's electric buses," the UN chief said in a video speech at an event organized by the Tsinghua University on July 23.

"Like COVID-19, climate change respects no borders. By seizing the mantle of leadership, China can help protect all people who share this planet," Guterres said.

While striving to strike a balance, the country should be deeply involved in global environmental governance, guide cooperation on climate change issues and work with others to come up with a worldwide solution for environmental protection and sustainable development, according to Xi's vision on ecological civilization.

"UNEP welcomes China's support for multilateralism and China's positive role in global environmental governance and regional cooperation,"Tsering said, adding that by signing and ratifying the most important modern environmental treaties, China sets an example.

The UNEP official mentioned many treaties and agreements in which China plays an active part, including the UN Paris climate agreement, the Montreal Protocol, the Basel and Stockholm conventions, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

She also praised China's support for other regional environmental cooperation programs, such as environmental cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China-Japan-Republic of Korea environmental cooperation and Lancang-Mekong subregional cooperation.

Initiated by Xi, the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition was established last year to promote cooperation and concerted action for green development on the Belt and Road, to integrate sustainable development into the BRI, and to help BRI participating countries to realize the UN Sustainable Development Goals on development and environment. More than 130 Chinese and international organizations have joined in the coalition, including UNEP.

Tsering called international cooperation vital. "A global challenge requires global efforts. That's why multilateralism is the only choice. No one country can do it alone."

China and UNEP can continue to work together to promote "Green Governance" principles and practices by sharing knowledge and through South-South cooperation, Tsering said. "This is urgent as many countries are trying to quickly develop response and recovery strategies for COVID-19," she added.