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Statement by Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu at Security Council Debate on Climate-Related Security Risks

2018-07-11 22:58

Madam President,

I welcome your convening of this debate. I thank Deputy Secretary-General and Minister of Water Resources of Iraq Dr. Janabi for their briefings and Ms. Ibrahim, representative of civil society in Chad for her statement.

Climate change, with its profound impact on the survival and development of mankind, is a daunting global challenge. In recent years, the concerted efforts of countries to protect the global environment and address climate change have yielded remarkable results. However, responding to climate change and achieving sustainable development is still an urgent and long-term task for the international community. Under the new circumstances, we should work together to deal with climate change.

First, it is important for the international community to foster a community with a shared future for mankind, and actively rise up to the global challenges. Countries must strengthen exchanges and cooperation to respond to climate change, and provide assistance to developing countries through technology transfer and capacity building. The United Nations and the relevant international and regional organizations should enhance coordination, and play a positive role in addressing climate change.

Second, the international community must uphold equality and justice, and ensure that international rules are followed and effectively implemented. Countries should fully respect the international agreements concluded in the area of climate change, reject the "zero sum mentality", strengthen benefit- and responsibility-sharing, and endeavor to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Third, the international community must earnestly implement the Paris Agreement. It is important to take into account the specificity of each country, respect the differences, especially those of developing countries, adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", help developing countries, especially the African countries and SIDS strengthen their capacity for adaptation, mitigation, management and financing.

Fourth, the international community must build a new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security to properly tackle climate-related security risks. At present, all types of security threats and risks keep emerging. All countries must take integrated measures, strengthen international cooperation, and pursue sustainable development, with a view to addressing climate-related security risks such as land and water resource depletion, food insecurity, humanitarian crisis, and big waves of migration through the achievement of common development.

China maintains that all member states should, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the mandate under relevant documents, properly address and respond to climate change issues based on the functions and the divisions of labor of UN organs.

Madam President,

Upholding the right approach to justice and interests, China has been participating in international cooperation to deal with the issues of climate change. We stand ready to continue to implement our commitment in South-South cooperation to combat climate change, and support other developing countries in responding to challenges of climate change. We are committed to working with the rest of the international community in a concerted effort to safeguard our common home.

Thank you, Madam President.

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