Morocco-China-UN to Promote South-south Cooperation on Climate Change
Marrakech, 14/11/2016 (MAP) – Morocco, China and the UN convened, on Monday in the Chinese COP22 pavilion, a high level forum on south-south cooperation on climate change which highlighted several initiatives and challenges facing southern countries to boost climate resilience.
Speaking at the opening session, Salaheddine Mezouar, COP22 President, congratulated China for adding impetus to south-south cooperation saying that COP22 “is an opportunity to forge south-south partnership models on sustainable development and climate resilience”.
For his part, Xie Zhenhua, Chinese Special Representative on Climate Change Affairs, highlighted the initiatives led by China to help developing countries strengthen capacity on low carbon adaptation and mitigation plans.
He said China has signed 27 Memorandums of Understanding with developing countries including material donations to counter climate change, adding that his country has been offering training in the field of fighting climate change, notably in terms of sharing technology on solar energy and using satellites to set up early warning systems to help developing countries fight climate change.
Zhenhua stressed China’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with UN agencies to facilitate a global climate governance, while stressing his country’s resolve to forge ahead with the implementation of NDCs.
Speaking at the same event, David Nabarro, Special Advisor of the UN Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, emphasised that promoting south-south cooperation is part of the collective responsibility to unlock the full potential of the Paris Agreement.
Nabarro, who was representing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, hailed developing countries for their sustained voice in favour of climate justice and commended China for its flagship programme: The South South Cooperation Fund for Climate Change, which aims at helping developing countries tackle climate change effects.
