On April 15, with the organization and coordination of the Science and Technology Section of the Embassy of China in South Africa, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) of South Africa held the “China-South Africa Cooperation on Climate Change Video Conference”. Mr. Sun Zhen, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Chief Director Kekana in charge of climate change negotiations of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment of South Africa, Minister Counsellor Shen Long of the Embassy of China in South Africa and the teams for negotiations and cooperation on climate change from both sides attended the conference.
Deputy Director-General Sun Zhen said that both China and South Africa, as major developing countries, are deeply affected by climate change. As members of the BASIC countries in the international negotiations on climate change, the two countries have maintained close cooperation, adhered to the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” and upheld the right to the development of developing countries. China attaches great importance to addressing climate change, and it has set the targets of “peaking carbon dioxide emissions” and “carbon neutrality”, advanced “pilot carbon markets” and encouraged scientific and technological innovation. South Africa has rich experience in the field of policy research on coping with climate change and has delivered certain outcomes in the fields of “carbon capture” and “carbon storage” technology research. China is ready to advance its pragmatic cooperation with South Africa in policy research, “adaptation” and “mitigation” of climate change, and other fields, to respond to climate change properly.
Chief Director Kekana said that China and South Africa have cooperated closely in all fields and at all levels in their joint response to climate change and hold a high degree of consensus on safeguarding the interests of developing countries. In recent years, South Africa has launched the National Medium - and Long-Term Plan for Low-carbon Development and the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and defined emission reduction targets. Currently, South Africa is soliciting opinions from all sectors of society on its “Nationally Determined Contributions”. South Africa is ready to reinforce coordination with China under the framework of BASIC countries, urge developed countries to fulfill their commitments, uphold the development interests of developing countries, and build China-South Africa cooperation on climate change into a model for cooperation among BASIC countries.
The two sides decided to set up the “China-South Africa Joint Task Force on Climate Change”, and jointly research, propose and carry out the implementation plan for the Memorandum of Understanding between China and South Africa on the Cooperation in Climate Change, and have reached cooperation intentions in various fields including policy exchange, information sharing, and energy transition. Both sides recognized the timeliness and importance of this conference and looked forward to more practical outcomes of cooperation in response to climate change, cooperation on environmental protection, low-carbon transition, and other fields.