High-level Task Force on China's Environment and Development Outlook

The triple environmental crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is pushing the planet to a tipping point. Meanwhile, global political and economic turbulence is making international environmental governance increasingly difficult.

In light of this, China has identified a need to accelerate its domestic environmental, economic, and social development and increase the country’s engagement in global environmental governance.

To support this ambition, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development’s (CCICED) ‘High-Level Task Force on China’s Environment and Development Outlook’ brings together leading Chinese and international experts to review past experiences and assess medium- and long-term trends, risks, and challenges. Launched in early 2025, the High-Level Task Force will deliver an interim report at the annual general meeting in 2025 and its final report in 2026.

The High-Level Task Force’s research objectives include:

• Review the environment and development transformation in China and globally over the past decade.
• Identify and analyze major challenges China faces in achieving its vision of low-carbon and high-quality development by 2050.
• Present strategic assessments of China’s ability to realize its medium- and long-term vision.
• Propose comprehensive policy recommendations in support of green development in China and globally.

The High-Level Task Force will produce a main Synthesis Report and several Thematic Reports. Each thematic report will focus on a critical area of environment and development and will review the current state of play, assess challenges and opportunities, and set out policy recommendations.

• Main Synthesis Report: “The Green Transformation: Towards Harmony between Humans and Nature”
• Thematic report 1: “Environmental Governance: Responding to the Three Planetary Crises”
• Thematic report 2: “Green Transition: Shifting Development Paradigms”
• Thematic report 3: “China and the World: Mutual Engagement in Sustainable Development Processes”
• Thematic report 4: “Green Governance: Reforming Institutions and Systems”

High-Level Task Force Kick-Off Meeting

The High-Level Task Force held its kick-off meeting on May 29, 2025. The meeting was attended by around 40 participants, including the Task Force’s leadership and experts, invited experts, and representatives of the CCICED Secretariat and its International Support Office.

Xie Zhenhua, CCICED Vice-Chairperson and China’s former Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Achim Steiner, CCICED Vice-Chairperson and UNDP Administrator, delivered opening speeches. Thereafter, Liu Shijin and Scott Vaughan, Deputy Chairs of the Task Force and CCICED’s Chinese and International Chief Advisors, respectively, introduced the background of the Task Force.

Ren Yong, leader of the Task Force’s core expert group and a CCICED Council Member, introduced the research focus and framework, followed by a discussion among the attending experts.

The discussion emphasized the importance of adopting a systems approach in the research, exploring the relationship between environment and development, and providing in-depth guidance for CCICED’s 8th research phase (2027–2032)—with the broader aim of advancing robust environment and development policies and practices in China and globally.

Group Leader:

• Ren Yong, CCICED member and Chief Engineer of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment

Advisors:

• Kate Hampton, CCICED Council Member, CEO of Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
• Dirk Messner, CCICED Council Member, President of German Environment Agency (UBA)
• Gim Huay Neo, CCICED Special Advisor, Managing Director of World Economic Forum (WEF)\
• Lana Edwards, Acting Director-General of Bilateral Affairs and Trade Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
• Zhou Guomei, Deputy Secretary-General of CCICED, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, MEE
• Wang Jinnan, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)
• Pan Jiahua, Member of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
• Guo Jing, President of BRIGC
• Xia Guang, Vice President of All-China Environment Federation

Experts:

• Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative, UNDP China Office
• Wan Jun, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, MEE
• Zhang Yongsheng, Director General of Institute of Ecological Civilization, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
• Zhang Haibin, Vice Dean of School of International Relations, Peking University
• Yu Hai, Deputy Director General of Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy, MEE
• Miranda Schreurs, Professor of Climate and Environmental Policy, Technical University of Munich
• Chen Gang, Secretary General, BRIGC (Liason)
• Shardul Agrawala, Head, Environment and Economy Integration Division, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Leo Horn-Phathanothai, Affiliate Researcher with the Asia Centre, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Senior Adviser, Systemiq
• Sarah Cook, Professor and Head of School of Economics University of Nottingham Ningbo
• Knut Alfsen, CEO of Alfsen Consulting, Senior Advisor to Accrona AS, and Special Advisor to CCICED