Mainland and Hong Kong to Step Up Cooperation in Combatting Climate Change
China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs Xie Zhenhua Updates Hong Kong Public at OHKF Seminar
(23 February 2016, Hong Kong) Mr Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Population, Resources and Environment Committee, and China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, today addressed over 600 people on “Global Climate Change and China’s Response” at the inaugural lecture of the China Masters Series organized by the Chinese Culture Institute, an initiative undertaken by Our Hong Kong Foundation.
was welcomed by Mr C H Tung, Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation.
Mr Xie said that China was at the centre stage of the international arena to address global climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris in late December. He said that the Paris Accord was not only a major milestone in global climate management, but also a great diplomatic victory for China. He added that the Paris Accord realized the principle of “Four Conducive Factors” – fairness, reasonableness, cooperation and win-win situation – raised by President Xi Jinping. This will boost the development of sustainability in China.
Mr Xie added that the Chinese Government will give full support to the Hong Kong SAR Government in combatting climate change. “Hong Kong’s low-carbon development is an integral part of the ‘Beautiful China’ initiative. The Chinese Government will continue to provide a platform for Hong Kong to participate in the international cooperative effort to address climate issues. This includes international exchange on carbon emission solutions, information sharing framework on greenhouse gas checklist, low-carbon investment, low-carbon urban planning, Pearl River Delta joint atmospheric pollution control, and control of ship emissions.
change into opportunities, and Hong Kong can also play a role in addressing climate change .
As the Paris Accord reflects the global trend of adapting a low-carbon green lifestyle, clean low-carbon energy sources, especially renewable energy, have become the mainstream, said Xie. He believed that major countries will continue to step up policy support and the injection of capital and technology. This will promote the generation of energy sources and a consumer revolution, and the development of green energy as well as low-carbon industries. He anticipated that green finance, low-carbon investment, emissions trading and the application of renewable energy technologies will benefit from the national policies and nurture new business opportunities.
Mrs Eva Cheng, Executive Director of Our Hong Kong Foundation, said, “It is of paramount importance that Hong Kong people have a good appreciation of Chinese culture and China’s rapid development in the global context. The goal of the Chinese Culture Institute is to present to the Hong Kong public the various key issues of world significance.”
She continued, “We chose climate change as the topic of our inaugural lecture because it is one of the main areas where China has shown admirable leadership and selfless contribution.”
This inaugural lecture was the first event under the China Masters Series, which is one of the signature initiatives undertaken by the Chinese Culture Institute. Apart from the China Masters Series, the Chinese Culture Institute will also organize courses as well as exchange programmes on contemporary China for the Hong Kong public, particularly the younger generation.
Two sessions of this inaugural lecture were held today – in the afternoon and at night – at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center at Admiralty, with a total of some 600 people from all walks of life attending.
About Mr Xie Zhenhua
Mr Xie Zhenhua was born in Tianjin in 1949. In June 1993, he was appointed Administrator of the National Environmental Protection Agency of China. In 1998, he was appointed Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Hygiene and Health Promotion Campaign. From 2006 to 2015, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In 2015 he was appointed China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs.
During his tenure as Vice Chairman of NDRC and Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, he was for nine consecutive years the Chief of the Chinese Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, organizing and promoting the drafting and implementation of China’s climate policies.
