China to build consensus on Paris agreement at COP24

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China is aiming to play a constructive role in building a consensus on the Paris agreement and green funds during climate change negotiations at Katowice, Poland, a senior Chinese envoy said on Monday.

The Katowice Climate Change Conference, COP 24, will kick off next week. “It is necessary to complete the negotiation on rules prepared during Paris talks at the Katowice Conference this year,” Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change said.

Experts maintained that at COP 24, the implementation of the Paris agreement will become crucial in the wake of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on limiting global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius.

For developing countries, the paucity of funds is a major deterrent in tackling greenhouse gas emission and combat the impact of climate change.

During the Copenhagen Climate Talks in 2009 (COP 15), developed countries promised 100 billion U.S. dollars a year by 2020 to developing nations to deal with climate change impact. Technical support to reduce emissions in low economy countries were also a central component of the plan.

The funds were supposed to assist emerging countries in initiating adaptation and mitigation actions, to deal with climate change triggered heat waves, floods, powerful storms, and rising sea levels.

While developing nations pursued the payment modalities in following COPs, developed countries refused to provide a concrete roadmap. At a recent Bangkok climate talk held in September, heated discussions on the issue ended in a stalemate.

Furthermore, the issue became contentious, with the U.S. announcing withdrawal from the Paris agreement, putting a question mark on its announcement to contribute 3 billion U.S. dollars towards GCF (Green Climate Fund).

The Sino-U.S. collaboration made a prominent contribution towards Paris agreement, Xie said. “The political ramification of the U.S. withdrawal has been significant. However, the impact has gradually stabilized.”

“No matter what other countries do, our country will firmly implement the Paris Agreement, and China will honor its commitments 100 percent,” he maintained.

Officials announced China has already fulfilled carbon intensity, amount of carbon dioxide produced per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) target, three years earlier than the deadline.

“We hope that the developed countries will honor their commitments towards the Paris Agreement,” Xie added.

(Top Photo: Xie Zhenhua (center) addresses a press conference on China's role and expectation at COP 24 to be held in Katowice, Poland, November 26, 2018. /VCG Photo)