Climate change and environmental protection will form a large
part of discussions at the European Union (EU)-China Summit, which
starts in Beijing Wednesday.
Major areas of cooperation between the two sides, including efforts
to combat climate change by setting up a clean-energy research
center, will be high on the agenda of the annual meeting.
The discussions come at a crucial time, as next month will see
about 180 countries' environmental leaders meeting in Bali,
Indonesia, to revisit post-Kyoto Protocol issues and decide on
joint efforts to reduce global warming.
China and the EU are expected to play influential roles at the
negotiation table then.
Environmental experts also believe that a cooperation agreement
mapped out at the ongoing summit will usher both sides into a new
era of environmental development.
Cooperation on climate change and environmental protection
between the two sides has a long history, which has in turn helped
China - a fast-developing country facing many environmental
challenges - move forward on a green and sustainable track.
The country's rapid economic growth and energy-related
challenges impact directly on climate change, energy security, air
pollution and the environment in general - both locally and
globally.
Over the last decade, China and EU have been working together
closely on environmental and energy issues through established
ministerial-level dialogues, high-level working groups, joint
workshops or conferences, and through the Sino-EU cooperation
program.
The 2005 EU-China Summit in Beijing also established a firm
partnership on fighting climate change.
Bilateral cooperation in the environment and sustainable
development sectors will continue to cover a wide range of topics -
from biodiversity protection, water management and waste
management, to energy saving and climate change.
Major projects include:
-- The 2007-2013 EU Country Strategy Paper for China and the
2007-2010 China Multi-annual Indicative Program. The program
defines areas of focus for EU-China cooperation on the environment
and energy.
The EU will further support China in addressing environmental
and energy-related challenges as outlined in the 11th Five-Year
Plan (2006-10) and beyond.
-- EU-China Energy and Environment Program, starting in 2003
with a total budget of 42.9 million (US$63.7 million). It aims to
increase the use of sustainable energy, strengthen the security of
energy supply and foster cooperation between Chinese and EU
industries in China's energy markets.
-- EU-China Natural Forest Management Project, commenced in 2003
with a total budget of 22.5 million. The project is under the
umbrella of the Natural Forest Protection Program of the State
Forest Administration.
-- EU-China Biodiversity Program, with a total budget reaching
51.4 million. It will strengthen sound biodiversity management in
all sectors.
-- EU-China River Basin Management Program, with a total budget
of 186.5 million. The program aims to establish environmentally
sustainable integrated river basin management practices - in the
Yellow River basin focusing on water pollution, and in the Yangtze
River basin emphasizing soil conservation measures.
All About
Global warming,
Climate change
(
China Daily November 28, 2007)
