DECLARATION ON CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION ON COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

2021-12-02 10:02

1. We, the Heads of Delegations of the People’s Republic of China, 53 African countries and the African Union Commission, all hold the view that climate change and its negative impacts are an urgent problem facing humanity and one of the most serious challenges in the world today. Joint efforts to tackle climate change bear on the future of mankind. A revolution is needed in the human society to mitigate the impact of climate change through, among others, speeding up affordable green and low-carbon transition, promote sustainable development and jointly foster a community of life for man and Nature.

2. We believe that climate change has become a major challenge to the natural and eco-environment and social and economic development of China and Africa. We commend the measures taken by China, the largest developing country, and Africa, the continent with the largest number of developing countries, in promoting cooperation on climate adaptation and mitigation and the great contribution they have made in this regard. We recognize the important role of forests in the Congo Basin in the fight against global climate change. We maintain that the international community should provide necessary support for the green development of developing countries including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), protect their legitimate rights to pursue independent and sustainable development, and support Africa’s efforts in relevant areas.

3. We believe that climate change, and the migratory movements that result from it, are a common challenge facing humanity and must be addressed through united actions under multilateral frameworks. We underscore that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement are the primary channel and the most important multilateral frameworks for international cooperation on climate change. Under the guidance of the principles set out in the Convention, including equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, we will work with all parties to ensure the implementation of the above-mentioned agreements, and welcome outcomes of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) including completing negotiations on the implementation guidelines of Paris Agreement, and adequate, predictable financial support will be provided for the climate adaptation actions of developing countries through mechanisms agreed on COPs. We call on the international community to take proactive and decisive steps to tackle climate change, and jointly support Egypt’s hosting of COP27 on behalf of African countries.

4. We all hold the view that equal emphasis should be given to mitigation and adaptation in addressing climate change. While recalling the spirit of the Marrakech Declaration issued at the First Africa Action Summit on 16 November 2016, we call on developed countries to increase financing, technology and capacity building support for developing countries, African countries in particular. Developed countries should earnestly fulfill their funding obligations, work to fill the gap in meeting the finance commitment of US$100 billion per year by 2020, make post-2020 arrangements for long-term finance, and start setting a new collective quantified finance goal post-2025 at an earlier date.

5. We decide to establish a China-Africa partnership of strategic cooperation of the new era for the fight against climate change. We will enhance coordination and cooperation in the multilateral process on climate, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of China, Africa and other developing countries. We stand ready to deepen South-South cooperation between China and Africa on climate change, expand areas of cooperation, and strengthen cooperation in areas including clean energy, the use of aerospace and aviation technology in addressing climate change, agriculture, forest, ocean, low-carbon infrastructure development, meteorological monitoring, forecast and early warning, environment monitoring, disaster prevention and mitigation, and climate adaptation. We will carry out practical cooperation projects to jointly address the challenge of climate change.

6. China and Africa will speed up the implementation of South-South and trilateral cooperation projects on climate change with signed contracts, push for the signing of cooperation documents on projects under consultation, advance the production, transportation and delivery of assistance supplies and equipment, and promote the building of low-carbon and low-greenhouse-gas demonstration zones. The two sides will, through on-going cooperation projects, support Africa in training professional personnel for climate response, and facilitate the delivery of climate technologies and services in Africa. The two sides will jointly preserve the outcomes of South-South and trilateral cooperation projects on climate change between China and Africa, and strengthen the piloting role of South-South cooperation projects in enhancing Africa’s capacity to address climate change.

7. The two sides will, under the frameworks of South-South cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, hold a high-level forum on climate change and further deepen communication and cooperation in this field including a proposed three-year China-Africa action plan. China will support Africa in implementing the Great Green Wall Initiative, and will make good use of technologies including the China High-resolution Earth Observation System, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and FengYun Meteorological Satellite to strengthen technological cooperation with Africa in disaster prevention and mitigation, climate adaptation and other fields, and enhance Africa’s resilience and capacity for addressing climate change. China supports African initiatives related to climate change, such as the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture and the Initiative for the Adaptation of Africa.

8. The two sides both advocate for innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared sustainable development, and will work to promote “green recovery” of the world economy in the post-COVID era. Technologies including big data and artificial intelligence will facilitate a more effective response. As a staunch supporter of sustainable development in Africa, China has launched over 100 clean energy and green development projects under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to support African countries in better utilizing solar, hydropower, wind, biogas and other renewable sources of energy. China will further increase investment in Africa on low-emission projects including photovoltaic, wind and other renewable energies, energy-saving technologies, high-tech industries, and green and low-carbon industries, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. China will also play a positive role in improving energy structure of African countries, upgrade industrial structure, build smart cities with advanced urban planning and waste management, and achieve green, low-carbon, high-quality development.

9. The two sides hold the view that cooperation on climate investment and financing is an important part of China-Africa practical cooperation. Efforts should be made to strengthen communication and cooperation in building policy frameworks including climate investment and financing standards, and encourage financial institutions of both sides to implement the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides will strengthen cooperation with the African Development Bank and other regional financial institutions in the field of climate investment and financing, encourage and support financial institutions and non-financial enterprises of the two sides to strengthen environmental risk management in project cooperation, improve the disclosure and exchange of climate and environmental information, conduct green, low-carbon supply chain management, and strengthen China-Africa cooperation on climate investment and financing. The two sides acknowledge the importance of supporting voluntary cooperation between financial institutions such as regional development banks and climate finance mechanisms including the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The two sides support qualified gas-to-power and green hydrogen development projects in accessing green investment and financing support. Africa has invested its own funds in adapting to climate change, which exceeds the amount of public development assistance it receives.

10. The two sides will strengthen cooperation on green development through the China-Africa Environment Cooperation Center and support the implementation of cooperation projects on climate change. The two sides will advance the implementation of the China-Africa Green Envoys Program and hold roundtables and capacity-building training, move forward the China-Africa Green Innovation Program and advance cooperation on green, circular and low-carbon technologies, and enhance Africa’s capacity to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and AU Agenda 2063.