EU-China Joint Statement on Climate Change

1. The EU and China (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Two Sides’) recognise their critical roles in combating global climate change, one of the greatest threats facing humanity. The seriousness of the challenge calls upon the two sides to work constructively together for the common good, in the context of sustainable economic and social development.

2. The Two Sides underline that the EU and China are effectively embarking on sustainable, resource efficient, green, low-carbon and climate resilient development for the well-being of people in the long term, recognising the co-benefits of ambitious climate actions, domestically, regionally and globally, in terms of energy security, productivity, employment, health, innovation and sustainable development.

3. The Two Sides recall the EU-China Joint Declaration on Climate Change in 2005, the EU-China Joint Statement on Coordination and Cooperation on Climate Change in 2010 and the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation in 2013 and its chapter on sustainable development including climate change and environmental protection, and commit to significantly step up the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change building on a decade of successful cooperation.

4. The Two Sides recall the objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’) as set out in its Article 2, and the need to urgently enhance global climate action to ensure the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention now, up to and beyond 2020, in light of the latest and best available scientific information, bearing in mind holding the increase in global average temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

5. The Two Sides commit to work together to reach an ambitious and legally binding agreement at the Paris Climate Conference in 2015 that enhances the implementation of the Convention, on the basis of equity and reflecting the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances. The Two Sides reiterate that the agreement shall be under the Convention and applicable to all, and shall address in a balanced manner, inter alia, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency of action and support.

6. The Two Sides note their respective announcements of enhanced climate actions by 2030, as the intended nationally determined contributions by China on one side and by the EU and its Member States on the other side towards achieving the objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2. Together with such announcements made by others, they are crucial steps of the long range effort to achieve the necessary green and low-carbon development worldwide. The Two Sides intend to continue to work under the Convention together to increase ambition over time.

7. The Two Sides urge developed countries to provide and mobilise enhanced financial support to developing countries for ambitious mitigation and adaptation actions, especially to countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and recognise complementary support by other countries.

8. The Two Sides emphasise the importance of accelerating the implementation of climate action between now and 2020. The Two Sides reiterate the commitment by developed countries to a 2 goal of mobilising jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries, in the context of meaningful mitigation actio

9. The Two Sides agree to:
• cooperate on developing a cost-effective low-carbon economy while maintaining robust economic growth; • elevate the cooperation on climate change in the EU and China bilateral relations;
• further enhance their policy dialogue and practical cooperation on the transformation to a resource efficient, green, low-carbon and climate resilient economy and society;
• in this context to further strengthen the respective analytical capacities in exploring efficient and effective pathways and policy instruments;
• further enhance existing bilateral cooperation on carbon markets, building upon and expanding on the on-going EU-China emission trading capacity building project and work together in the years ahead on the issues related to carbon emissions trading;
• launch an EU-China Low-Carbon Cities Partnership to promote mutual exchange on policies, planning and good practices for low-carbon and climate resilient cities;
• promote their dialogue and cooperation on domestic mitigation policies and measures in terms of energy conservation and energy efficiency in key sectors including energy supply, industry, buildings and transportation including aviation and maritime activities;
• enhance their collaboration on climate-related scientific research and cooperation on technology innovation, including the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies, and adaptation solutions;
• recognise the successful cooperation on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage in the framework of the Near Zero Carbon Initiative (NZEC) and to study ways to continue this cooperation;
• continue to cooperate on afforestation with a view to enhancing the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; • reinforce EU-China climate dialogue on the UNFCCC and other relevant fora such as the G20, MEF, Montreal Protocol, ICAO and IMO;
• intensify their dialogue and cooperation on domestic policies and measures on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and work together with other countries to agree on a multilateral solution to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs;
• explore opportunities to work together on low carbon and climate resilient investments and capacity building bilaterally and internationally.