It was third time lucky. With less than five months to go until COP24 in Katowice (3-14 December), where the Paris Rulebook is due to be finalised, the leaders of the EU and China adopted a joint statement, in Beijing on Monday 16 July, on Climate Change and Clean Energy. They had not been able to adopt this statement either in June 2017 or in December 2017 for reasons that had nothing to do with climate change (see EUROPE 12062).
On the climate front, the final statement of the 20th summit and this specific statement that is annexed to it bear witness to both parties' commitment to find joint solutions to a global challenge. They formalise a response to the US administration's defection when it turned its back on this universal agreement.
"We underlined our firm determination to combat climate change and show leadership at global level", European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker commented in a statement. The subject was not mentioned during the final press conference, but both Juncker and China's Premier Li Keqiang showed faith in multilateralism. "I remain convinced that the era of globalisation and interdependence, multilateralism must be the constant of our action", Juncker told press.
In the final statement, the two parties reaffirm the importance of combating climate change and engaging to contribute actively to the conclusion of the Paris Agreement work programme in order to ensure full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The EU and China commit to increasing their cooperation to become low carbon emission economies and to applying the Paris Agreement. Both parties agreed to step up their political, technical and scientific cooperation on climate change and clean energy.
European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen and the president of China's National Development and Reform Commission furthermore signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation between the European Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China on the emissions trading system (ETS) – the EU's ETS and China's system, which was launched last year.
Climate but also protection of environment and circular economy
In the final statement, the two parties also underline the importance of assuming greater leadership as regards the global agenda on the environment, particularly on issues like the prevention and control of pollution, the conservation of biodiversity, and the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The EU commends China's commitment, with the country due to host the International Convention on Biological Biodiversity in 2020, which should enable the adoption of a post-2020 global framework on biodiversity (see EUROPE 12049).
The EU and China hail the United Nations' adoption of the resolution entitled 'Towards a Global Pact for the Environment' and are expecting a report by António Guterres at the next UN General Assembly as the basis for work for moving forward.
The EU and China furthermore decided to establish a high level political dialogue on the circular economy. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)