EU-China Environmental Policy Seminar – Bilateral Project Closing Meeting

On December 11, 2024, the EU-China Cooperation on Environment and Green Economy Project hosted an EU-China Environmental Policy Seminar in Beijing, serving also as the closing meeting of the project’s second phase.

With support from the European Commission, the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy (PRCEE), ClientEarth and GOPA Worldwide Consultants jointly implemented the first phase of the EU-China Environment Project from January 2018 to June 2021. The first phase of the project addressed some of the key areas of mutual concern for environmental policy making in China and Europe, and carried out a series of exchange activities around environmental protection and green development, promoting mutual understanding and experience sharing.

The second phase of the project was officially launched in July 2021. It focused on key areas for cooperation proposed by the bi-annual minister-level Environmental Policy Dialogue, such as biodiversity protection, integrated environmental policies, pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and environmental pollution prevention and control. Various activities such as policy research, expert seminars, training, and visits were carried out to provide a platform for communication between EU and Chinese environmental policy makers and experts, further support the Environmental Policy Dialogue, and enhance EU-China cooperation in global environmental affairs and key areas.

Zhuo Zhuang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), and Laurent Bardon, Counsellor for Environment and Climate Action, EU Delegation to China, attended the meeting and delivered opening speeches. More than 40 representatives from Chinese and foreign governments, think tanks, and international organisations from relevant departments and units of the MEE, the EU Mission to China, embassies of Sweden, Germany, Romania and other countries in China, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Institute for European Environmental Policy, etc. attended the meeting online and offline.

The meeting reviewed the main achievements of the project, introduced the latest progress on key environmental policies, and had a vibrant discussion on the opportunities and challenges of EU-China environmental and climate cooperation. The meeting heard that the second phase of the project has carried out a variety of activities in four areas of common concern between China and Europe: biodiversity conservation and implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, integration of environmental policies, synergising pollution and carbon reduction in the industrial and transportation sectors, and environmental pollution prevention and control. It has effectively promoted closer alignment between China and Europe on priority issues in environmental governance, and contributed to joint responses to global environmental issues and the realisation of sustainable development goals.

The delegates and experts at the meeting emphasised that there is huge potential for cooperation in the fields of addressing climate change, environmental management of chemicals, biodiversity protection, and environmental pollution prevention and control. Both sides look forward to continuing to deepen policy and technical exchanges and good practice sharing in the field of environment and climate, strengthening project cooperation and dialogue and communication, and working together to make greater contributions to global environmental and climate governance.