South-South Cooperation Stands Out in the Climate Change Challenge – An Exclusive Interview with UNEP Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw

China Leads South-South Climate Change Cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last September that the government would make available RMB 20 billion (about US $3.1 billion) for establishment of the "China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund." Its objectives are to help developing countries' transition to green, low-carbon development, and to expand their capacity to access the Green Climate Fund which consisting of US $10 billion pledged mostly by developed countries is the largest of its kind.

The international community hailed this commitment. UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called China "a leader" in advancing South-South cooperation. As the world's biggest developing country, China has always promoted cooperation among Southern countries and over the past 60 years has provided a total of RMB 400 billion in financial aid to 166 nations. It has, moreover, in the last couple of years floated several defining initiatives, including the BRICS Development Bank, the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Silk Road Development Fund, which are expected to vitalize cooperation among less developed countries and elevate their status on the world stage.

Against the backdrop of a growingly urgent environmental situation, the Chinese government acknowledges the importance of the environment and its correlation with social and economic development. This is apparent in "ecological progress" occupying a more prominent position in the newly-unveiled 13th Five-year Plan. Ibrahim Thiaw commented that the nation-level planning scheme is very "advanced" by virtue of its inclusion of ecological preservation and sustainable development. "We would like to see full implementation of the plan in China, and the promotion of sustainable development internationally," Thiaw said.

The development mode transition is also reflected in China's cooperation with other developing countries. The Chinese government has given higher priority to climate change issues in the course of South-South cooperation. It contributed each year from 2011 to 2013 through SSC projects US $10 million as special funds to help African countries, the least developed countries, and small island countries combat climate change. In the just-concluded COP21 Paris Conference, President Xi announced more plans for cooperation with other developing countries, including 10 pilot low-carbon industrial parks, 100 mitigation and adaptation programs, and 1,000 personnel training opportunities.

Since 2011, China has accumulatively allocated around US $44 million to South-South climate change cooperation. Although details have not yet been published, the new China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund is expected to bring about a lasting institutional change to financial aid under the SSC framework.