Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission

16 February 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon and welcome.

Today is a truly historic day, a day worthy of being celebrated by the whole international community, especially those parties who have been working in the area of climate change for a long time. Today is the day when the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the ¡°UNFCCC¡±), an international treaty, finally enters into force.

The Kyoto Protocol is hard won. During the United Nations Environment and Development Conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the UNFCCC was negotiated and I witnessed the historic moment when Chinese Premier Li Peng signed the Convention. Ten years have passed since the Convention came into force. During these ten years, considerable progress has been achieved with regard to the international cooperation in dealing with climate change. In 1995, consensus on the ¡°Berlin Authorization¡± was made at the first Conference of the Parties (the ¡°COP¡±); in 1997, negotiation on the Kyoto Protocol was completed; in 1998, the ¡°Buenos Aires Action Plan¡± emerged as required, which gave out clear instructions for the further negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol. Subsequently, the Bonn Political Agreement and the Marrakech Accords were agreed upon by the Parties and these swept away the remaining obstacles to the Kyoto Protocol. In 2002, COP 8 culminated in the Delhi Declaration which set out the direction of future negotiations on the Convention, principally to deal with climate change within the framework of sustainable development.

The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol today indicates the commencement of a new period in the global community¡¯s response to climate change. Undoubtedly, the coming into force of the Protocol and its implementation will be very helpful in reducing Greenhouse Gas (¡°GHG¡±) emissions and thereby mitigating climate change.

However, we cannot overlook some drawbacks during the last ten years of the Convention. For instance, some key provisions of the Convention have not been implemented effectively and the negotiations have proceeded quite slowly with regard to technology transfer, funding mechanisms and capacity building. Furthermore, actions taken by certain developed countries, which accounted for nearly 40% of GHG emissions in 1990, are particularly unsatisfactory as they have not approved the Protocol. This has had the effect of weakening the Protocol¡¯s implementation. Finally progress in reducing GHG emissions in some developed countries has been slow and of particular concern is the fact that the GHG emissions in other developed countries have continued to rise above 1990 levels.

As a developing country with a lower capacity to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the issue of climate change and is taking proactive measures including the following:

First of all, a national coordination body for climate change was established. In 1990, the Chinese government set up the National Coordination Committee on Climate Change and appointed Mr. Song Jian, Member of the State Council, as the chairman. In 1998, the committee was restructured and Mr. Zeng Peiyan, the former director of the National Development and Reform Commission (¡°NDRC¡±), now the vice premier of the State Council, was designated as its chairman. In 2003, Mr. Ma Kai, the director of NDRC, became the chairman. Since the Committee was established, considerable work has been carried out in guiding the participation of the Chinese government in the relevant international negotiations, legislation development and coordination of policy and other measures dealing with climate change.

Secondly, the Chinese government has attended the international negotiations on climate change. Since 1990, the Chinese government dispatched delegations to be involved in the negotiation of the Convention drafting and make China¡¯s contribution to the agreement of the Convention. On the 11th June 1992, Premier Li Peng signed the Convention on behalf of the Chinese government during his presence at the United Nations Environment and Development Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In January 1993, the Standing Committee of the National People¡¯s Congress approved the Convention and thus China became one of the earliest countries to approve the Convention. On 29th May 1998, the Chinese government signed the Kyoto Protocol, and it was ratified on 30th August 2002. Premier Zhu Rongji announced this ratification at the World Summit Conference on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, and China received great praise for this step by the international community.

The Chinese government has dispatched ministerial delegations to attend all previous COPs. Moreover, the Chinese government has appointed scientists to participate in the compiling of specific reports and technical reports to support the drafting of the first, second and third evaluation report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (¡°IPCC¡±). Over 20 Chinese experts are now working hard for the fourth evaluation report.

Thirdly, a series of policies and other measures have been taken to mitigate GHG emissions, including:

----To constitute and implement a sustainable development strategy for China and to make coping with climate change an important part of it;

----To strive for improving energy efficiency, to develop high quality energy resources and to improve the energy structure; to promote the utilization of new energy and renewable energy and support the development and use of biomass, solar, wind and geothermal energy in rural and remote areas;

----To carry out large scale forestation activities.

Fourthly, the Chinese government has been earnest in the implementation of its obligations under the Convention. With three years effort by several hundred experts, the Initial National Communication on Climate Change of the People¡¯s Republic of China was completed. After approval by the State Council, it was submitted to the COP November 2004. This is one of the activities that the Chinese government has undertaken to meet its obligations. In addition, China is now developing the National Strategy for Dealing with Climate Change and it is expected to be officially issued within this year.

Fifthly, activities have been carried out to publicise the background and importance of tackling climate change, and also to improve public awareness of climate change. These activities include compiling and printing training packages, publishing reading materials, conducting training courses and workshops and disseminating information through broadcasting, TV, newspaper and other media channels. These activities have made more and more people recognize the potential impacts of climate change, understand how to mitigate these impacts and consequently encourage the public to make their own contributions.

Sixthly, scientific research has been carried out with regard to climate change. The Chinese government has organized key scientific research programmes regarding climate change, including basic research and policy studies. In addition, relevant research institutes have conducted cooperative research with their peers in the international community.

Finally, the Chinese government has prepared itself for the implementation of the Protocol. To fully grasp the opportunity provided by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Protocol, the National CDM Board has been established consisting of the relevant Ministries. In June 2004, the Interim Measures for the Management and Operation of CDM Projects in China was issued, stipulating the application procedure and permission requirements. At present, two CDM projects have been approved and many others are under preparation.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Looking back at our successes and the lessons we have learnt, I believe we can create better prospects for the future. The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol is only the first step for us to deal with climate change issue. We will face greater challenges and the whole international community must be prepared for them. To meet with the future challenges, we propose the following:

First of all, we shall adhere to the guiding principles of the Convention. Each basic principle set out in the Convention, especially the principle of Common but Differential Responsibility, is the basis of negotiation on climate change.

Secondly, we shall take actions under the framework of sustainable development. This is the requirement stipulated in the Delhi Declaration, as well as the consensus of international community in its long exploration of how to deal with climate change. This demands us to develop the economy, eradicate poverty, remove unsustainable ways of consumption and adopt a concerted mode of economic development and environmental protection.

Thirdly, we shall aim to make a balance between adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. To mitigate is to prevent climate change, but climate change has already brought negative impacts to society, especially to developing countries. Therefore, to adapt to climate change is an equally important part of dealing with climate change. Mitigation and adaptation are two wheels for the Convention to go forward, and both are important. We appeal that the negotiation process on adaptation should be increased.

Fourthly, we shall emphasise the importance of technology development and transfer from a strategic point of view. Without any doubt, we have to depend on science and technology to meet the challenges of climate change. Nowadays, large scale infrastructure construction is ongoing in developing countries, and less sophisticated technology will lead to high GHG emissions being a feature for decades to come if advanced and environmental friendly technology are not introduced. Technology does exist but often mechanisms for technology dissemination and transfer are lacking. We cannot afford to miss this great opportunity for protecting our global climate system and we shall promote technology development and transfer with innovative and reforming concepts.

Finally, emphasis shall be put on specific actions. We have the Convention and Protocol already, as well as numerous decisions and action plans. But, our actions are still not enough. We need to set up more international cooperation mechanisms which suit the situations of different countries as well as mobilize their enthusiasm. Furthermore we need to enable the government sector and private sectors to participate more fully in the activities of dealing with climate change, especially the CDM cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Global climate change is a key challenge that faces all of society. China, together with the international community, is willing to seek effective measures to deal with climate change under the framework of sustainable development. Today, we meet here, to celebrate the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. We also want to take this opportunity to show to the whole world that, under the principle of common but differential responsibility, China will follow a comprehensive, concerted and sustainable development view, continue to promote energy efficiency and the development and utilization of new and renewable energy, carry out forestation activities vigorously and thereby make contributions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. China will always implement its obligations under the Convention and the Protocol, and also expects to cooperate with the international community with regard to technology transfer and funds. China will help other developing countries to adapt to climate change when taking the lead in emission reduction activities.

Thank you!

Source: Office of National Coordination Committee on Climate Change