On June 19, Ministry of Ecological Environment and Jiangxi Provincial Government jointly organized the 7th National Low Carbon Day Major Event in Nanchang. The theme of this year’s Low Carbon Day is “Low-Carbon Action, Defending Blue Sky”. On behalf of GIZ, Dr. Alexander Fisher,Program Director for Climate Change Cooperation, Environment, and Climate Friendly Urban Development, together with team members participated the event upon partners’ invitation.
Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of Ministry of Ecology and Environment pointed out that the Chinese government has incorporated climate-related goals into national economic and social development plans, and has taken effective measures. Progress has been made including significantly-decreased carbon intensity, continuously-increased non-fossil energy and forest stock, promotion of climate adaptation, and international cooperation on climate change. It is hoped that the whole country will jointly adopt low-carbon concept and contribute to the protection of the ecological environment and the promotion of green low-carbon development.
Wu Xiaojun, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, mentioned that Jiangxi had thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping’s idea of ecological civilization, and taken measures such as strengthening energy conservation and structural optimization, building a low-carbon industrial system, promoting the development of low-carbon urbanization, accelerating regional low-carbon development and building a carbon emission trading market. The province has made a way of coordinated development of ecology and economy with Jiangxi typical characteristics.
In the afternoon session, Dr. Fisher presented as a panelist in the Closing Workshop of Sino-Swiss Adapting to Climate Change in China (ACCC) hosted by Swiss Development Agency (SDC)Dr. Fisher highlighted that more attention and efforts should be devoted to climate adaptation, although mitigation had been a major part of international and national efforts to tackle climate change in the past. Since COP 21 in 2015, many developing countries have reached a consensus that mitigation and adaptation is equally important. In order to achieve the relevant indicators of the SDGs by 2030, adaptation is more required.
Dr. Fisher also pointed out that we must implement climate adaptation measures immediately as the impact of climate change is getting more severe. We appreciate that the Chinese government has strengthened adaptation on a very significant strategic level, and China has gradually become the leading country in the field of adaptation. Therefore, GIZ will actively promote international cooperation projects on climate adaptation and integrated climate risk management jointly with the Chinese government and the Swiss government, and that project should be also implemented on city-level in China.
National Low-carbon Day falls on the third day of the National Energy Efficiency Promotion Week in June every year, a campaign in China to raise public awareness of energy efficiency and promote green lifestyles.