China News Service, Paris, October 21 (Reporter Li Yang) The 8th "Friends of the Paris Agreement" high-level dialogue was held in Paris, France from the 19th to the 20th. High-level representatives from more than 20 countries conducted in-depth and candid exchanges on issues such as multilateralism, green transformation, and climate financing. The meeting was co-chaired by Xie Zhenhua, the former special envoy of China on climate change affairs, and Laurence Tubiana, the former French climate change negotiation ambassador and CEO of the European Climate Foundation.
In his opening speech, Xie Zhenhua reviewed the positive progress made in global climate governance and green and low-carbon transformation since the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, and emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of multilateralism and fairness, promoting healthy competition and pragmatic cooperation, coordinating development and people's livelihood, and maintaining candid dialogue. He pointed out that despite facing multiple challenges, China's strategic determination to deal with climate change and its goal of peaking carbon neutrality will not change.
Currently, multilateralism in global climate governance is under attack, and the credibility of the Paris Agreement is facing a test. The guests at the meeting agreed that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the signing and entry into force of the Paris Agreement. The goals, principles, and institutional arrangements of the Paris Agreement must not be shaken. The main current problems are insufficient action, implementation, and support. Guests at the meeting called on countries to speed up the implementation of existing climate commitments, strengthen international cooperation in climate governance, and prepare for the second global stocktake. The guests said that 133 countries around the world have submitted a new round of nationally determined contributions for 2035, and more than 130 countries and regions have proposed carbon neutrality or net-zero emission goals. This shows that despite profound changes in the international situation, it is still the broad consensus of the international community to work together to address climate change and promote low-carbon transformation.
At the same time, the risks posed by climate change are also intensifying. The oceans continue to heat up, glaciers continue to retreat, and the effects of El Niño and extreme weather are superimposed. Guests at the meeting called on countries to speed up emissions reductions while also paying more attention to adaptation and climate resilience, and improving their ability to prevent risks and respond to disasters.
During the two-day discussion, all parties also had candid and in-depth discussions on green and low-carbon transformation, electrification, climate financing and other issues. Guests at the meeting said that the more complex and severe the situation becomes, the more we should cherish the existing consensus and deepen practical cooperation. "Friends of the Paris Agreement" should cherish the foundation of mutual trust and cooperation accumulated over the years, uphold the distinctive characteristics of informal dialogue and candid exchanges, and continue to play the unique role of this high-level, constructive dialogue platform.
Guests from various countries participating in this dialogue include former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, former Irish President Mary Robinson, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Rivera, Australian Minister of Climate Change and Energy and COP31 Negotiation Chair Chris Bowen, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin, Brazilian COP30 Chairman Andre Correa Durago, and Turkey’s COP31 Chair. Special Representative of the President Mohamed Emin Bilpenar, British Special Representative for Climate Affairs Rachel Kate, Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change of the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia and Chief Negotiator of the Climate Agreement Khalid Mehad, etc., as well as Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Fatih Birol, Administrator of the International Energy Agency, Francisco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, etc. Guests attending the conference came from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Pacific, covering developed countries, developing countries, small island countries, as well as relevant personnel from United Nations agencies, international organizations and research institutions.
The "Friends of the Paris Agreement" high-level dialogue was launched in 2019. It is held in turn by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University and the European Climate Foundation every year. High-level guests from various countries who have played an important role in the conclusion and implementation of the Paris Agreement are invited to participate in discussions. The results of the meeting will be submitted to the United Nations, the host country of the Climate Conference, the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other institutions in the form of a chairman's summary, to provide opinions and suggestions for promoting the multilateral process.
