China and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling major global environmental challenges through enhanced cooperation on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and plastic pollution control. This commitment was articulated during a meeting between China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, and Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, held on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia.
The discussions highlighted the importance of the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue and focused on critical issues such as global biodiversity protection, negotiations for an international agreement on plastic pollution, and preparations for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31). Both parties emphasized the necessity of strengthening communication and implementing existing agreements to advance shared environmental priorities through international cooperation.
A significant part of the discussions centered on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework sets long-term goals for nature protection, including a target to effectively restore at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, marine, and coastal ecosystems by 2030.
Minister Huang expressed optimism about China and the EU working collaboratively to achieve tangible outcomes at COP17 and COP31, thus contributing to the improvement of global environmental governance. Meanwhile, Ribera acknowledged China’s contributions to environmental protection and climate negotiations, underscoring the value of continued dialogue and closer cooperation on these pressing issues.
The renewed commitment between China and the EU underscores the critical role of their cooperation in advancing international environmental agreements and promoting a sustainable future. As the world faces increasing environmental challenges, such partnerships are essential in driving significant progress in climate action and biodiversity conservation.