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President Hu Jintao expounds China's stance on climate change at APEC meeting

Chinese President Hu Jintao expounded China's stance on tackling climate change on Sep. 8 in Sydney at the 15th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

 First, tackle climate change through cooperation. Climate change, being a global issue that concerns the interests of all countries, should be addressed through the joint efforts of all countries. Developed countries should face their historical responsibility and their current right per-capita emissions, strictly abide by their emission reduction targets set forth in the Kyoto Protocol, and continue to take the lead in reducing emissions after 2012. Developing countries should, in light of their national conditions, take due measures including introducing and applying advanced clean technologies, to improve the capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change and contribute their share to tackling climate change. International communities should intensify their support to developing countries. Developed countries should honor their commitment on making technological transfer and providing financial support to developing countries and practically help developing countries to improve their capacity in mitigating and adapting climate change.

Second, pursue sustainable development. Climate change is ultimately a development issue, and it can only be addressed in the course of sustainable development. We should ensure that both production and consumption are compatible with sustainable development. We should improve energy mix, upgrade industries, promote low-carbon economy, build an energy-saving and environment-friendly society and thus address the root cause of climate change.

Third, uphold the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as the core mechanism for addressing climate change. The Convention and its Kyoto Protocol constitute the legal basis of international cooperation on climate change and are most authoritative, universal and comprehensive international framework for addressing climate change. The Convention and its Kyoto Protocol should be upheld as the core mechanism and main channel for addressing climate change, and the principle established in the Convention should be taken as the guiding principle for addressing climate change.

Fourth, adhere to scientific and technological innovation. Science and technology are important means for tackling climate change. We should step up research and development as well as the application of energy efficient technologies, environmental protection technologies and low carbon energy technologies. We should intensify personnel training, bring into full play the initiatives of all parties and raise our overall capacity to jointly address climate change.

Release of the Mid and Long-term Plan for the Development of Renewable Energy

Mid and Long-term Plan for the Development of Renewable Energy was made public in Beijing on September 5, 2007. The Plan points out that the focus of China on the development of renewable resources in the future will be hydro power, biomass, wind and solar energy. It is expected that by the year 2020, China will complete the construction of 300 million kW of hydro power, 30 million kW of wind-fueled power, 30 million kW of biomass fueled electricity and 1.8 million kW of solar fueled electricity. The government encourages the application of the technologies using solar heat. It is expected that China will build solar-heated floorage of 300 million m2 by 2020. The government should promote the biogas projects in developing household biogas and livestock & fowl breeding farms and speed up the application and extension of processed biomass fuel. It is expected that 44 billion m3 of biogas and processed biomass fuel and 50 million t biomass fuel will be utilized each year by 2020. With active development of non-grain biological liquid fuel, it is expected that 10 million t capacity of petroleum equivalent will be obtained by 2020.

SEPA will carry out trial work on eco compensation in four fields

SEPA will carry out trial work on eco compensation in the following four fields.

1) Eco compensation for nature reserves. The authority should sort out and expand the input channel for nature reserves, raise the standardization level of the development of nature reserves, guide the shift of lifestyle of the communities in the vicinity of nature reserves, lower the pressure of surrounding communities on nature reserves, comprehensively evaluate the impacts of various development projects in the surrounding areas on eco environment of nature reserves or ecological loss resulting from the adjustment of the zoning and function areas and develop an eco compensation standard system for nature reserves.

2) Eco compensation for important eco function areas. The authority should establish and improve the coordinated management and input mechanism for important eco function areas, set up and improve eco environment quality monitoring and evaluation system for important eco function areas, strengthen the efforts in comprehensive environmental control in urban and rural areas of such areas, carry out the accounting study on eco compensation standard and establish such standard system for important eco function areas.
　　3) Eco compensation for the development of mineral resources. The authority should comprehensively put in place the responsibilities for mine-site environmental control and eco restoration. It should in cooperation with relevant departments scientifically evaluate the use of the deposit for the environmental control and eco restoration during the development of mineral resources as well as the use mine-site eco compensation fund, and develop scientific eco compensation standard system for the development of mineral resources.
　　4) Eco compensation for the protection of water environment of river basins. Local governments should ensure the quality of boundary out-flowing water meeting the standard, identify horizontal compensation standard based on in- and out-flow water quality; build a government administrative platform conducive to the development of river basin eco compensation mechanism, facilitate the development of the sharing mechanism for the conservation of rive basin ecology, strengthen the coordination with relevant stakeholders and promote the establishment of the special fund for the promotion of inter-administrative region water environment.

Link: Policy Recommendations of CCICED to the Chinese Government at 2006 AGM: Comprehensive Financial System Reform

An eco-compensation mechanism should be created to adjust the relations between stakeholders with regard to the distribution of environmental interests and economic benefits. Laws and policies should be established to encourage environmental protection behavior.

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Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with the International Co-chair of the Task Force on Environment and Health

Mr. Zhu Guangyao, Secretary General of CCICED, met with Mr. Seiji Ikkatai, the International Co-chair of the Task Force on Environment and Health on August 28. Mr. Zhu appreciated the continuous support of the Japanese side to CCICED and hoped that the co-chairs of the Task Force cooperate closely with experts, seriously study the experience of Japan and other countries in the field of environment and health and submit a high-quality report to CCICED 2008 AGM. The Task Force on Environment and Health aims to study necessary policies of China in the field of environment and health, absorb the experience and lessons of other countries and put forward recommendations on future policy of China on environment and health.

Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with French Parliament Member

On September 11, Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with the visiting French delegation headed by Mr. Jean Jacques Guillet, MP of Hauts-de-Seine of France and member of Foreign Affairs Commission of National Assembly. Mr. Zhu gave a brief introduction of environmental protection in China and that of CCICED. He thanked the long-term attention and support of French side to CCICED and hoped further China-France cooperation and exchanges under the framework of CCICED.

Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with CCICED Chief Advisors

Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with Mr. Shen Guofang and Mr. Arthur Hanson, Chief Advisors of CCICED on September 28 and discussed on policy research work of CCICED. The two advisors firstly introduced the progress of each Task Force over the past half year, the Issues Paper prepared by Chief Advisors and its supporting experts team for CCICED 2007 AGM and the development of policy recommendations to the Chinese Government at 2007 AGM. Mr. Zhu appreciated the work and achievements of Chief Advisors over the past half year and hoped that the Chief Advisors, CCICED Secretariat and its International Office exert all their strength to ensure the smooth operation of CCICED policy research activities with close cooperation. He stressed that the focus of the Secretariat and Chief Advisors in the near future is full preparation for 2007 AGM to make a good beginning for the new phase of CCICED.

Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with CIDA Vice President Hau Sing Tse

Secretary General Zhu Guangyao met with Mr. Hau Sing Tse, Vice President of Canadian International Development Agency on September 30. Mr. Zhu expressed his congratulations to Mr. Hau Sing Tse who won the 2007 Friendship Award of People’s Republic of China and appreciated his long-term support to environmental protection of China in particular his attention and support to CCICED. They also exchanged their views on China-Canada cooperation under the framework of CCICED. Mr. Xu Qinghua, Deputy Secretary General of CCICED and DG of the Department of International Cooperation of SEPA accompanied Mr. Zhu at the meeting.

CCICED Secretariat and Chief Advisors

CCICED Secretariat and its International Support Office held a work meeting

CCICED Secretariat and its International Support Office held a work meeting in Beijing during September 19-21. The meeting discussed the preparations for CCICED 2007 AGM, primary work arrangements for CCICED in 2008 and other relevant matters. Mr. Guo Jing, Director of CCICED Secretariat and Mr. Chris Dagg, Director of CCICED Secretariat International Support Office, attended the meeting.

CCICED Secretariat and Chief Advisors held a joint work meeting

The joint work meeting of CCICED Secretariat and Chief Advisors was held in Beijing on September 26-27. Participants of the meeting listened and discussed the draft reports that are going to be submitted to CCICED 2007 AGM, which include the reports of the Task Force on Policy Mechanism towards Successful Achievement of the ‘11th Five-Year Plan’ Environment Target, Task Force on Innovation and Environment-Friendly Society, Special Policy Study on China’s Chemical Management and the International Experience and the Special Policy Study of “Strategy Transformation on Environment and Development: Global Experience and China’s Solution”. The meeting also discussed the arrangements for policy study in the field of environment and energy as well as the preparations for CCICED 2007 AGM. The Chief Advisors put forward recommendations to the Secretary General on CCICED policy study in the field of energy and environment. It presented a deadline on report submission to CCICED.

Representatives of CCICED partners including Canada, Norway, Sweden, Britain, Italy, Germany, France and EU as well as Shell Company attended the meeting.

Policy Study

Task Force on Environment and Health

Task Force on Environment and Health held a work meeting on August 28. Participants of the meeting discussed such contents as the research objective, assignments, main output of international experts, routine operation and management of the Task Force and identified the work arrangement of the next stage. They also decided to hold a TF plenary meeting in Beijing on October 29. The Chinese Co-chair Mr. Guo Xinbiao and International Co-chair Mr. Seiji Ikkatai attended the meeting.

Based on the analysis on existing problems and policy requirement for the administration of environment and health in China and absorption of the international experience and lessons in the administration of environment and health, the Task Force will put forward policy recommendations on the development of China’s administrative system on environment and health and system design of the compensation for health damage by pollution.

Task Force on Innovation and Environment-Friendly Society

Task Force on Innovation and Environment-Friendly Society held a work meeting in Beijing on September 15, 2007. Participants of the meeting discussed the philosophy, framework, main direction and starting point of the research and exchanged their views and identified the work program for the next stage. At the same time, they decided to hold a Task Force plenary meeting in early November. The Chinese Co-chair Mr. Feng Zhijun and International Co-chair Mr. David Strangway attended the meeting.

On September 5, the Chinese Co-chair Mr. Feng Zhijun chaired a work meeting which discussed the outline of the research, relevant study components of each sub-project, work arrangements and division.

Special Policy Study on China’s Chemical Management and the International Experience

Special Policy Study on China’s Chemical Management and the International Experience held a work meeting in Beijing during September 24-25 with participants of the co-chairs and TF members. They discussed the draft study report that is going to be submitted to CCICED 2007 AGM and made the arrangements for the next stage. The meeting decided to hold another work meeting on October 26 to discuss the final version of the report. The Chinese Co-chair Mr. Hu Jianxin and International Co-chair Ms. Ulrike Kowalski attended the meeting. This Special Policy Study enjoyed a smooth progress under the support of GTZ with the submission of the draft policy recommendations.

Special Policy Study of “Strategy Transformation on Environment and Development: Global Experience and China’s Solution”

Special Policy Study of “Strategy Transformation on Environment and Development: Global Experience and China’s Solution” held a work meeting in Beijing during September 24-25. Participants of the meeting discussed the outline of the topic study report that is going to be submitted to CCICED 2007 AGM and identified the work arrangements for the next stage. The Chinese Co-chair Prof. Ye Ruqiu and International Co-chair Dr. Chris Flavin chaired the meeting. CCICED Chief Advisors and Chinese and international experts of the Task Force took part in the meeting.

CCICED 2007 Annual General Meeting

The State Council recently approved the holding of CCICED 2007 AGM during November 28-30, 2007 in Beijing with the theme of “Innovation towards an Environmentally-Friendly Society”. CCICED Chinese and International Members, co-chairs of Task Forces and Special Policy Studies, Chinese and international experts, officials of relevant government departments and observers from relevant countries and international organizations will attend the meeting at invitation.