Endeavoring for China’s Environment and Development Transformation: Three Decades of CCICED

The China Council for International Cooperation on Cooperation and Development (CCICED) was started in 1992 with high hopes and big ambitions. The timing seemed perfect from a global perspective—UNCED (June 1992 Rio Earth Summit) was about to happen after a long gestation that stretched back to the famous 1987 Brundtland Report, Our Common Future. China’s planners and scientists at high levels had come to a tentative but still highly significant realization that the success of future economic growth might become more and more dependent on finding pathways that also enhance quality of life, security, and ecological systems and natural resources, and that mitigate risks from pollution and other environmental impacts.

Indeed, there was already a national law for environmental protection, and some programs such as tree planting were already in place. Never once over these past three decades has CCICED stopped being an observer of what is one of the most complex and important environmental and development transformations seen in the modern world. More importantly, this body has been privileged to play an ongoing role in helping to shape and advise on policies and mechanisms regarding many of the innovative approaches put in place. CCICED is recognized as the senior advisory source linking Chinese and international inputs concerning this broad field of environment and development. CCICED is a council “owned” by China but operated as a collective that deeply involves both Chinese and international expertise in all of its work.

We recognize that CCICED is only one voice among many, but through its structure and long-standing experience, it is unique. CCICED is a trusted source in how it gathers and assembles its knowledge base. It has demonstrated success in how this knowledge can bring new insights of value to both the Government of China and international circles. Further, it operates on the principle that the information is accessible to all who choose to use it.

This CCICED at 30 report goes deeper than skimming the surface, but it is still incomplete in many ways. The document provides a broad overview of how the Council was established, its structure and intended functions, quite a bit of detail on the work according to topics, and some of the outcomes influenced. We have tried to identify many of the people involved at various points in the work. Donor partners and other partners, both Chinese and international, have shown great faith over the years in the guidance and trust they have placed in the organization.

Document Type: General Report Year: 2023 Phase: Phase VII (2022-2027) Concluded