President,

I thank all the briefers for their briefings.

Climate change poses a severe challenge to humanity. It has had and will continue to have a profound impact on the development of all nations and on people’s livelihoods and production activities. Global climate governance has never been as urgent and important as it is today. The Belém Climate Summit is currently underway. It represents a crucial step in advancing the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and will chart the course for global climate governance in the coming decade. China will, as always, play a constructive role and work with all parties to support the Brazilian Presidency towards positive outcomes and a full success of the Summit, thereby providing more stability and new momentum to international cooperation on climate response. 

President, 

The link between climate change and development is well known, and its relationship with security is drawing increasing attention. In recent years, the Security Council has held multiple debates and deliberations on climate and security. China believes that the Security Council, in accordance with its responsibilities and mandate, can analyze the relationship between climate and security in the context of conflicts and hotspots on its existing agenda on a case-by-case basis, and where possible, utilize resources and means at its disposal to provide support and assistance to relevant countries in climate response and conflict prevention and resolution. In this regard, Africa’s unique natural environment and agriculture-based economic development model make it particularly vulnerable to climate change. The situation of some African countries in conflict are very emblematic and have always been a focus of the Security Council. In this connection, I wish to make the following three points. 

First, in recent years, regions including the Sahel and Central Africa have been plagued by climate disasters. Floods and droughts have intensified the competition for resources, exacerbated hunger and displacement, and amplified the risks of insecurity and instability in affected countries. The international community should pay adequate attention to the challenges that climate change poses to Africa’s sustainable development and the security challenges it indirectly triggers, and actively respond to the voices and concerns of regional countries. In particular, it needs to urge parties to conflict to reduce damage to natural environment and infrastructure, so as to prevent further intensifying risks of climate change. 

Second, preventing climate change-driven security crisis ultimately requires enhancing resilience to climate change through sustainable development. Africa’s long suffering of brutal colonial plunder, North-South development disparities, and unequal distribution of resources are key reasons for its insufficient climate resistance. The historical responsibilities of developed countries in this regard should not be overlooked. The international community should provide adequate financial, technological, and capacity-building support to African countries in climate response and help them, based on their national conditions, integrate climate response into their overall national development plans. Developed countries should fulfill their obligations by taking the lead in significantly reducing emissions, honor their climate finance commitments, and step up technology transfer. 

Third, the world now faces a huge demand for green development, particularly in developing countries. The international community should strengthen cooperation on green technologies and industries, ensure the free flow of quality green products, and in particular, support Africa in enhancing clean energy projects such as PV, hydropower, and wind power, to bridge the green technology divide and accelerate green and low-carbon transition. The UN system, including Security Council-mandated peacekeeping and special political missions, should procure more high quality and affordable green products and play a leading role in enhancing cost efficiency, promoting green and low-carbon practices, and minimizing carbon footprints, while taking into account operational costs and performance. 

President, 

China has always been an active participant, an important contributor, and a key trailblazer in global climate governance. In September this year, President Xi Jinping announced China’s new NDCs at the UN Climate Summit, demonstrating China’s proactive stance and firm resolve in advancing global climate governance. Last month, the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee reviewed and adopted the proposal for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development, which calls for accelerating the comprehensive, green transformation of China’s economic and social development over the next five years, and actively and steadily advancing and achieving carbon peaking. Last year, at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, China proposed the partnership action for green development, which involves launching 30 clean energy projects in Africa, putting in place meteorological early warning systems, and carrying out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief, as well as biodiversity conservation. Guided by President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative, China will continue to actively participate in global climate governance and make greater contributions to the international community’s joint efforts to address climate challenge. 

Thank you, President.

Second Round of Remarks on Climate and Security by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the UN Security Council Briefing

President,

Just now in his speech, the United States representative referred to a permanent member of the Security Council taking up 26% of the global emission. I noticed his euphemism and indirectness. Now that he was so indirect, I would like to indirectly remind him that this permanent member of the Security Council has 1.4 billion people and its GDP takes the second place in the world. This country is contributing annually more than 30% to the world economy, and its per capita emission is not among the highest in the world. This Security Council permanent member is recognized by the international community as one of the countries with the firmest will, the strongest actions, and the most remarkable results in fulfilling its emission reduction commitment. It is definitely a doer in the global response to climate change.

I also wish to indirectly point out that we have another permanent member of the Security Council whose total greenhouse gas emission in history takes up the first place in the world, and its per capita emission is always number one in the world. This permanent member of the Security Council has taken a major step backward in history by withdrawing twice from the Paris Agreement, severely undermining global climate governance efforts. China hopes that the international community, on the topic of climate change, can focus on science and cooperation and work in concert to respond to this severe challenge facing the entire humanity. 

Thank you, President.

Third Round of Remarks on Climate and Security by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the UN Security Council Briefing

President,

Since the US representative has been less subtle this time, I will not mince words either. China is the biggest carbon emitter in the world today. We are not hiding from this fact. That said, China is widely recognized by the international community as one of the countries with the strongest commitment, the most decisive actions, and the most remarkable results in fulfilling its emission reduction commitments. We have 1.4 billion people, our GDP is the second in the world, and our contribution to the world economic growth is for all to see. If you look at the US, by contrast, it claims that climate change is the greatest con job in human history, it withdrew from the Paris Agreement twice, and it is the biggest obstacle to global cooperation on climate change. In terms of climate change, who is taking actions? Who is shirking responsibilities? Who is promoting cooperation? Who is disrupting cooperation? The international community sees it all clearly. In the end, I would like to again call on the international community to promote cooperation and solidarity instead of pointing fingers or shirking responsibilities in terms of climate change cooperation.

Thank you.