The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (the Paris Conference on Climate Change) opened in Paris on Nov. 30, 2015. As a member of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) delegation, I attended the first-week activities from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.

The Paris Conference turned over a new page

The Paris Conference on Climate Change had drawn great attention from the international community. People were concerned about whether it would be held smoothly as Paris had just suffered a severe terrorist attack. Finally, the host country held a successful conference and achieved significant results.

More than 140 heads of state or government leaders attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Besides government delegations, representatives from UN agencies, other international and regional organizations, NGOs, think tanks, media and business community also participated in the conference. The total number of participants reached over 30,000. 183 countries submitted NDCs ahead of the conference. Various parties including the US, EU, G77 displayed sincerity and flexibility in the tough negotiations and reached the Paris Agreement shortly before the conference ended. The Agreement provided the principles, framework and roadmap. Nevertheless, various parties were divided over issues like funding, legal binding force and outcome evaluation. The developing countries urged the developed countries to keep their commitments for financial aid and continue to provide financial and technological support after 2020.

China made positive contributions to the success of the conference. President Xi Jinping made an important speech titled “Work Together to Build a Win-Win, Equitable and Balanced Governance Mechanism on Climate Change” which was well received by the representatives of various countries. They said that China had demonstrated its sincerity to join hands with the international community to deal with the challenges of global climate change by advocating global governance on climate change, striving to build a community of common destiny for the entire mankind and adopting specific measures to help the developing countries, thus giving them a good example and confidence and proving that China was a responsible major country. During the conference, China persisted in the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, encouraged countries to work to narrow differences and played a vital role in reaching the Paris Agreement.

NGOs constituted another powerful force

NGOs were very active at the conference and contributed to its success. About 2000 NGOs attended the conference. The conference secretariat had tried hard to provide them with a variety of opportunities. They could sit in on some official meetings, news conferences to closely follow the activities of government delegations. They were also invited to participate in some activities held by government delegations. The conference secretariat also designated Building No. 4 as the special zone for NGOs where NGOs set up booths for exhibitions and exchanges with others. They could also hold side meetings in a dozen of meeting rooms inside Building No. 4. Over 900 NGOs with UNFCCC observer status held about 200 side meetings in total.  

Since the main conference venue could not accommodate so many participating NGOs, the conference secretariat set up a “green camp” for those NGOs who could not enter the main conference venue. Many political leaders including President Holland visited the camp to listen to and interact with NGOs.

NGOs thought that tackling climate change was the common challenge of mankind. They praised the NDCs of various countries as a concrete step forward. NGOs hoped that the conference could boost the wellbeing of mankind by working out a fair, effective, applicable and legally binding agreement. They emphasized that governments should implement their promises and mobilize the whole society to adopt common action. They held various activities during the conference like seminars, lectures, exhibitions and cultural show. Through these activities, they helped raise the awareness of the public of the urgency and importance of dealing with climate change, urge the international community and governments to reach consensus and boldly make decisions beneficial to the current and future generations. 
　　
Chinese NGO representatives actively participated in the conference

Chinese NGOs were quite active during the conference. The China Science and Technology Association and China Green Carbon Foundation held respectively two formal side meetings entitled “Climate Change and Resilience—Jointly Planning China’s Urbanization” and “Dealing with Climate Change—China’s Forestry Action and Innovative Risk Management” which attracted a large number of participants. 30 side meetings were held within China Pavilion. Six well-known Chinese NGOs including CNIE, China Science and Technology Association and China Federation for Environmental Protection made speeches on special topics at the side meetings and introduced about measures and results in addressing climate change in respects of the general situation of tackling climate change, harnessing desertification, afforestation, low-carbon and emission reductions which receive positive responses. China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO), All-link New Energy Council, Shiqing Innovation Center sponsored or participated in meetings focused on topics like responding to the China-US Climate Declaration, carbon financing, China-EU cooperation in climate change, young people participating in dealing with climate change. Mr. Wang Shi, famous Chinese entrepreneur was also invited to participate in the activities at China Pavilion.

Many Chinese NGOs and enterprises also appeared in the green camp. There was a China Corner decorated with typical eye-catching Chinese red. Dozens of Chinese well-known enterprises set up their booth in the China Corner. A senior executive of a furniture company of Hebei Province introduced to the visitors the company’s environment-friendly products with pride, which was very impressive.   

Also in the green camp, I saw some Chinese young volunteers who had come to provide service as enlisted by the China Youth Climate Action Network. Dressed in lovely panda clothes, they gave some performances themed on environment protection or sang Chinese folk songs. Many people watched their performances and posed with them for photos.

I came to realize the Chinese NGOs had got more and more actively involved in large international multilateral activities with stronger capabilities. They had become an important icon of Chinese image.