Africa: China Boosts Fight Aganist Climate Change

By Iyaya Kevin

Nairobi---China and UNEP have signed an agreement, South-South Cooperation on Climate Change Adaptation, in a high level meeting held at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi on 10th May 2014.

Premier Li Keqiang and UN Secretary-Under-General, Executive Director Achim Steiner endorsed the arrangement ahead of a landmark Global Environment Assembly convened to take place next month, in Nairobi.  China's acceleration efforts of transition to an inclusive Green Economy, was key in the discussion few weeks before a UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) summit.

UNEP and China have agreed to harness their strengths and resources to assist countries of global south combat climate change. An initiative flagged by the two partners in 2008, in collaboration with African countries. it's co-funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the government of china respectively.

Premier Li said that over the years, UNEP has made tremendous efforts to further global sustainable development and environmental conservation, for which China will continue to offer support by contributing US$6million to the organization.

Mr. Steiner claimed that the new agreement shows commitment of China in combating climate change, across the Global South and that in doing so, it can count on UNEP’s unwavering support.   

Steiner who currently serves as Vice-Chairperson of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), of which Premier Li was the former Chair, commended on his predecessor’s government’s efforts, dedication and commitment to work with his organization at the strategic level.

China has been criticized for being the world’s largest emitter of CO2, prompting her to commit to reducing the emission by 40-45% per unit of GDP below 2005 levels by 2020. This has led to China investing US$67.7billion in renewable energies; such as wind, hydro electricity and solar energy.