COP29: UK and China can set a powerful example of global climate cooperation – World

Professor Piers FORSTER (Interim Chairman of the UK Climate Change Committee)

Professor WANG YI (Vice Chairman of the China Climate Change Expert Group)

Global surface temperatures reached record levels in 2024, and climate impacts are being felt around the world. While multilateral negotiations at the UNFCCC COP29 meeting in Azerbaijan have brought some progress, for example on international carbon markets, there is an increasing focus on bilateral, subnational and group-of-country dialogues that can offer pathways to further progress. At a time of rising political tensions, close bilateral cooperation between the UK and China can provide the international leadership needed to accelerate progress on climate change this decade.

While negotiations continued in Azerbaijan, the national leaders of Britain and China met at the G20 summit in Brazil. They agreed to cooperate in areas such as clean energy and climate change, addressing shared global challenges.

Following this meeting, and in order to support both multilateral and bilateral cooperation, we invite our climate change expert committees to develop our cooperation. Our committees have different mandates and institutional structures. However, we can work together effectively to help us better advise our countries on how to decarbonise and influence the green transition in a way that supports jobs and the economy.

A British committee recently advised the UK government on its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035. The Chinese committee advises the Chinese government on its dual targets on carbon emissions and climate risks, and supports international climate negotiations. Both countries could reach a broader and more practical consensus with the support of their respective committees.

With support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and Chatham House, the UK climate science community and policy experts have been collaborating since 2013, working to improve understanding of climate change risks and policies necessary to improve sustainability. Over the past two years, this cooperation has deepened. Our committees have jointly explored how to provide constructive advice to our governments on a number of agreed upon common themes. interest and relevance to our national context. We hereby propose that our expert committees develop collaboration within their current institutional structures to help us better advise our respective countries.

To build a greener, more climate-resilient and inclusive sustainable society, the UK and China must take full advantage of the successful experience of cooperation over the past decade and the strengths of the established cooperation framework to further deepen cooperation. Our countries could consider adopting a joint statement to advance the multilateral climate agenda. Work streams could be developed and focused on the clean energy transition, climate and nature co-management, climate risk and resilience, green finance, working with other countries to facilitate the transition in an equitable, fair and orderly manner that promotes sustainable development. economic development.

We look forward to the UK and China formally introducing comprehensive and compelling NDCs by 2035. By moving towards these goals, the UK and China can set an example for the rest of the world.