On April 15th 2019, the famous Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið published a signed article by Ambassador Jin Zhijian entitled China Takes Responsible Attitude Towards Climate Change. In the article, Ambassador Jin introduced China's policy, action and achievements on tackling climate change, and expressed his wishes to work together with Iceland to combat climate change and safeguard mother planet. The full text is as follows:

Climate change is a major global issue of universal concern and a common challenge facing mankind. Though remaining as world’s largest developing country, China fully shoulders its responsibility and attaches great importance to climate change. As early as 2007, China issued its first national plan to address climate change, the first developing country to adopt and implement a national climate change program.

China has always been an active participant in the global course for addressing climate change. China played a key role in securing the Paris Agreement at the World Climate Change Conference 2015, where Chinese President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Chinese government, pledged to peak CO2 emissions by around 2030 and strive to achieve it as soon as possible, and by 2030, reduce CO2 per unit of GDP by 60-65% over the 2005 level, raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20% and increase forest stock by around 4.5 billion cubic meters over 2005. This requires strenuous efforts, but we have confidence and resolve to fulfill our commitments.

Chinese culture values harmony between man and nature and respects nature. China is vigorously making ecological endeavors to promote green, circular and low-carbon growth. We have integrated our climate change efforts into China’s medium and long term program of economic and social development. We try to make progress on all fronts by restoring to legal and administrative means, technologies and market forces.

With unremitting efforts, China has made remarkable progress, which has won appraisal of the international community. China’s CO2 emissions per unit of GDP has declined by approximately 46% by the end of 2017 compared to 2005. Renewable energy in China, which accounts for 28% of the global total, already accounts for 13.8% of China’s primary energy consumption. Forest stock has increased by 2.1 billion cubic meters. China has successfully launched the nationwide carbon emissions trading system at the end of 2017.

Combating climate change goes beyond borders. China takes an active part in international cooperation on climate change. Over the years, the Chinese government has earnestly fulfilled its commitments of South-South Cooperation regarding climate change. China established the South-South Climate Cooperation Fund of RMB 20 billion in 2015 to promote cooperation among developing countries. So far, China has signed memoranda of cooperation with 34 countries, offering them goods and materials to cope with climate change. China has trained nearly 1,000 officials and researchers from over 100 developing countries to improve their abilities in raising capital and combating climate change.

Although China and Iceland are far from each other and have different national conditions, the two countries share common interests in addressing global climate change. We can work together to share relevant information, technology, products and experience through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and jointly contribute to the implementation of Paris Agreement. On this long and challenging journey to protect our mother planet, China is ready and willing to join hands with Iceland and the rest of the world to secure a better world for the future generations.

Jin Zhijian

Chinese Ambassador to Iceland