A Chinese representative has called for unity and collaboration in the face of climate crisis after a package of climate agreements was reached early Sunday at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).
The agreements included decisions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate financing and issues relating to the global carbon market mechanism under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The agreements set the post-2025 climate finance targets, including an annual funding of at least 300 billion U.S. dollars from developed countries and a broader climate financing goal of at least 1.3 trillion dollars per year by 2035 for supporting developing countries' climate actions.
In his speech at the closing plenary session, Zhao Yingmin, head of the Chinese delegation and vice minister of ecology and environment, highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Over the past 30 years, the process of climate governance under the convention has faced challenges but has consistently moved forward.
Zhao emphasized that humanity is a community with a shared future, and in the face of the climate crisis, unity and collaboration are the only viable paths.
The vice minister also noted that the outcome document on the NCQG revealed that developed countries' financial commitments still fall far short of meeting the needs of developing nations, and their financial obligations must be further clarified.
The upcoming year 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement. At this new historic juncture, all parties must remain true to their original aspirations and forge ahead, said the Chinese official.
He added that addressing the global climate crisis requires adhering to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", upholding multilateralism, and working together for mutual benefit.
Zhao reaffirmed that China, as a responsible major developing country, will steadfastly promote the multilateral process and international cooperation on climate change, regardless of how the global landscape evolves.
China will continue to implement its national strategy for actively addressing climate change, pursue its carbon peaking and neutrality goals and engage extensively in South-South climate cooperation to contribute to global green, low-carbon, climate-resilient and sustainable development, he said.
The Chinese representative also called on the international community to work together to make substantial progress toward the vision set out in the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and jointly build a clean and beautiful world.