2022 CCICED Policy Recommendations

As unprecedented global changes and the once-in-a-century pandemic intertwine, the world finds itself in a new period of turbulence and changes. Economic recovery is fragile and weak, geopolitical conflicts are escalating, energy and food prices are rising, and global ecological deficits are widening. The gap between poor and rich countries is ever increasing, while the number of people living in extreme poverty is growing. Four key climate change indicators—greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean heat, and ocean acidification—all set new records in 2021. Human activities are causing land, ocean, and atmospheric changes on a global scale, with lasting and detrimental effects on ecosystems and sustainable development.

In an international context of mounting instability, risk and shocks, countries around the world are faced with the challenge of reconciling short-term security and stability goals with long-term green and low-carbon development. The international community is paying close attention to China’s strategic determination and pathways toward the multiple objectives of carbon reduction, pollution reduction, ecological restoration, nature conservation, and growth under the general principle of “prioritizing stability while pursuing progress.” It will not only affect the practice of China’s new development concepts of innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing, but also drive the advancement of inclusive, green, low-carbon development at the global level.

As it marked its 30th anniversary in 2022, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) recommends that China should unremittingly hold firm in its strategic determination towards Ecological Civilization, by prioritizing and stabilizing expectations for a green, low-carbon transition, and move from securing short-term economic, energy, food and other security to unleashing win-win short and long-term green economic stimulus, innovation, low-carbon growth in which science links short, interim and longer-term green development targets and timetables. In this way, China will open a new green chapter for high-quality development.

Document Type: Policy Recommendations Year: 2022 Phase: Phase VI (2017-2022) Concluded