During the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, China and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to tackling global environmental challenges through enhanced cooperation. China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, and Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, discussed strengthening their collaborative efforts in areas such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and plastic pollution control.
The discussions took place in the context of the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue, focusing on global biodiversity protection, negotiations for an international agreement on plastic pollution, and preparations for the upcoming 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31). Both parties emphasized the need to implement existing agreements and advance shared environmental priorities.
One of the key topics was the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect nature with specific targets set for 2030. This framework’s objectives include restoring at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, marine, and coastal ecosystems by 2030, a goal that China and the EU are committed to achieving through joint efforts.
Huang highlighted the longstanding constructive cooperation between China and the EU in environmental protection and climate action, expressing hope for positive outcomes at both COP17 and COP31. Ribera acknowledged China’s contributions to these areas and supported continued dialogue and closer cooperation to further climate action, biodiversity conservation, and the reduction of plastic pollution.
This renewed commitment underscores the importance of China-EU collaboration in advancing international environmental agreements and promoting a sustainable future. Both sides are eager to continue working together to improve global environmental governance and address pressing ecological issues.