(Originally published on 09/30/2016)

Beijing, 24 September- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China, in collaboration with the Executive Office of the Secretary General and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has hosted the first international workshop to facilitate South-South Cooperation for Climate Change and enhance the communication between China and other developing countries. The workshop brought together more than 50 participants from 9 countries including; Ecuador, Jamaica, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mongolia.

This workshop was hosted by UNDP China, with the UN Executive office of the Secretary General and the National Development and Reform Commission as co-hosts. The initiative identifies innovative approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The initiative has established an Alliance for Climate-Friendly Communities and South-South cooperation for climate change to promote cooperation on climate change. The workshop “South-South Cooperation for Climate Change” kick-started the alliance by bringing UN, UNDP, NDRC and  experts, together with delegates from southern partner countries to discuss demand and potential support on low-carbon communities and climate change solutions.

“At UNDP we see the significant catalytic potential of South-South cooperation to provide an effective modality to achieve the sustainable development goals” noted Agi Veres, UNDP China Country Director. “The new development landscape, spearheaded by China, reflects a blended approach, both in partnerships and financing and UNDP is dedicated to foster stronger ties linked to these opportunities between the development, investment and trade nexus, and between China and other developing countries.”

The purpose of the workshop was to match country demands for cooperation with support options through south-south cooperation in combating climate change, especially in designing and implementing low-carbon pilots. The workshop’s main output was project proposals presented by participant countries that are ready for implementation with support of China. Proposals that seek to create climate friendly solutions for communities in areas such as education, health care, agriculture, energy efficient community initiatives and with strong demonstrational value for scaling up and sharing across countries. As part of the three day workshop, participants visited two technology sites that showcased examples of technologies that could be adapted for use in climate change adaptation in developing countries, such as water conservation, renewable energy solutions for both households and commercial consumption.

Dr. David Nabarro, Under Secretary General emphasized in a video televised message to the meeting that “Actions taken today, will move us closer to a global temperature increase that is below 2 degrees Celsius and to a sustainable future where no one is left behind.” 

Addressing climate change is a top priority for the United Nations Development Programme, with the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasizing the importance of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) to mitigate the impacts of climate change around the world. By fostering cooperation across the global south to share experiences and solutions, UNDP in collaboration with the UN Secretary General’s Executive Office and the National Development and Reform Committee of P.R. China successfully paved the way for strengthened cooperation on South-South Cooperation for Climate Change. 

This initiative will provide a platform that facilitate real exchange of solutions between countries matching with support options from the UN and NDRC by providing support to low-carbon communities, alongside offering climate change solutions based on experience and technology from China.