UN Policy Dialogue on Green Development: Acting on COVID-posed challenges: Accelerating the Transition to a Low-carbon Economy

The United Nations (UN) in China in collaboration with the Government of China organised a policy dialogue on green development entitled “Acting on COVID-posed challenges: Accelerating the Transition to a Low-carbon Economy”.

After previous dialogues focusing respectively on social protection and food systems, this was the third of the series led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China following the release of the United Nations Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19 in 2020. UNDP and UNEP were the hosts of the dialogue.

The dialogue aimed to share and learn from the efforts in China and globally to achieve a green development, and to initiate a policy discussion about concrete future pathways that are compatible with climate, biodiversity and environmental objectives as set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The dialogue included an introductory session with welcoming remarks from China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) Deputy Director General Sun Zhen, a framing presentation from Professor He Jiankun, Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, on China’s pathway to attain carbon neutrality by 2060, and a keynote speech from Professor Li Junfeng, Chairman of the Academic Committee of the National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, presenting a roadmap to boost renewable energy development for a greener energy mix in China.

The event in the afternoon included three panels on green technology, green finance and biodiversity. They gathered about 200 national and provincial government officials, representatives from academia, industries, social partners, civil society and UN agencies in China, both in the region and internationally.

Press Release of this Dialogue (EN)

Press Release of this Dialogue (CH)