Summary Highlights: 1 - 3 November 2018

Highlights for Saturday, 3 Novemer 2018

Li Ganjie, Minister of Ecology and Environment, China

The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) concluded on Saturday, 3 November. In the morning, participants heard report-backs from the eight parallel open forums held the previous day. They also considered progress on various Special Policy Studies commissioned by the Council, including on oceans, climate change, biodiversity and green urbanization.  

In the afternoon, participants discussed CCICED’s draft policy recommendations for the Chinese government, which are in the process of being finalized, and are organized around the following themes:

• upgrading China’s contribution to global climate governance through enhanced action on climate change mitigation within China;
• developing an “ecological civilization approach” to China’s roles in national and global ocean governance;
• playing a strong leadership role in developing effective post-2020 global biodiversity goals under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);
• carrying out the greening of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI);
• strengthening performance of green development institutional, social, and economic reform in the Yangtze River Economic Belt; and
• leading green urbanization through innovation of technology, planning and policy.

CCICED Secretary General Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment, China, highlighted the Executive Committee’s approval of the 2019 CCICED Workplan. He announced that the next AGM will be held in June 2019 in Zhejiang Province.

In closing, Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP), noted “great expectations” for China in terms of maintaining momentum on climate action, hosting the 15th Conference of the Parties to the CBD in 2020; and creating synergies between ecological civilization and BRI.

Executive Vice Chairperson Li, China, highlighted the Chinese government’s dedication to fighting pollution and pursuing sustainability despite global and domestic economic challenges. He underscored that with Council Members’ unified efforts, achievement of ecological civilization and Beautiful China “will contribute to a beautiful world.”

CCICED Executive Vice Chair Erik Solheim, UN Environment Programme (UNEP); CCICED Vice Chair Xie Zhenhua, Special Envoy on Climate Change, China; CCICED Executive Vice Chair Li Ganjie, Minister, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), China; CCICED Vice Chair Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP; CCICED Vice Chair Vidar Helgesen, Special Envoy to the High-level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Norway; and CCICED Secretary General Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister, MEE, China

Michael McElroy, Professor, Environmental Studies, Harvard University

Hans Friederich, Director General, International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

Incoming CCICED International Chief Advisor Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

CCICED Vice Chair Xie Zhenhua, Special Envoy on Climate Change, China

Highlights for Friday, 2 November 2018

The dais at the official opening meeting of the 2018 CCICED AGM

The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) continued on Friday.

In the morning, eight parallel open forums took place on:

• The Green Belt and Road Initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• Addressing Climate Change by Innovating Development Pathways;
• Post-2020 Biodiversity Conservation;
• Environmental Governance for the Ocean;
• Innovation-Driven Green Urbanization;
• Beautiful China 2035;
• Green Consumption for Green Transformation; and
• Green Development Innovation for the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

In the afternoon, the Council’s official opening meeting was addressed by CCICED Executive Vice Chairperson Catherine McKenna, Minister, Environment and Climate Change, Canada; and CCICED Chairperson Han Zheng, Vice Premier of the State Council, China. In a subsequent plenary session, participants considered the 2018 CCICED Issues Paper on “Shocks, Innovation and Ecological Civilization: A ‘New Green Era’ for China and for the World,” as well as the Council’s draft policy recommendations to the government of China.

CCICED’s AGM is convening in Beijing, China, under the theme “Innovation for a Green Era.” The meeting will conclude on Saturday.

Li Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director, External Affairs, Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Kate Hampton, CEO, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation

CCICED Vice-Chair Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP)

Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Arthur Hanson, outgoing CCICED International Chief Advisor

Kathleen McLaughlin, Senior Vice President, Walmart, and Marjorie Yang, Chairman, Esquel Group

Stephen P. Groff, Vice President, Asian Development Bank, and Incoming CCICED International Chief Advisor Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Highlights for Thursday, 1 November 2018

The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) opens in Beijing, China

The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) commenced on Thursday with a closed meeting of the Executive Committee.

In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion on “Low-Carbon and Circular Economy for Green Development” took place.

Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP) and CCICED Vice Chairperson, pointed to the findings of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on 1.5°C (SR15) and the 2030 deadline for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring: “time is our greatest enemy.”

Vidar Helgesen, Norway’s Special Envoy to the High-level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy, and CCICED Vice Chairperson, said the IPCC SR15 has served as “an alarm clock to the world.” He called for “unlocking opportunities for the new economy, rather than locking in the misery of the old economy.”

Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), China, and CCICED Secretary General, highlighted that the 19th Party Congress had laid out a top-level design to ensure the harmonious co-existence of humans and nature, and recent amendments to China’s constitution to incorporate concepts such as ecological civilization and Beautiful China.

Catherine McKenna, Minister, Environment and Climate Change, Canada, and CCICED Executive Vice Chairperson, stressed the need to “do a lot better” with regard to the circular economy, which she said could help meet climate change goals, the SDGs, and future resource needs.

Following these opening remarks, roundtable discussions took place on the following themes:

• Challenges and Measures in Creating Innovative Governance Mechanisms;
• The Role of the Business Community in Green Development; and
• Partnership Development for Low-Carbon and Circular Economy.

CCICED’s AGM is convening in Beijing, China under the theme “Innovation for a Green Era.” The meeting will continue until Saturday.

L-R: CCICED Secretary-General Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister, MEE, China; CCICED Executive Vice-Chair Catherine McKenna, Minister, Environment and Climate Change, Canada; CCICED Vice-Chair Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP; and CCICED Vice-Chair Vidar Helgesen, Special Envoy to the High-level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Norway

CCICED Vice-Chair Achim Steiner, UNDP

CCICED Vice-Chair Vidar Helgesen, Norway

Liu Dashan, Chairman, China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group

CCICED Special Advisor Galit Cohen, Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the State of Israel