Climate Change Key Focus of Business and Youth Engagement in China

(Beijing, 26 June 2014) – The second China Summit on Caring for Climate: Ecological Civilization and Beautiful Home was held today in Beijing to elevate the role of business action in addressing climate change in China. 

Organized by the Global Compact Network China in collaboration with UNIDO’s Green Industry Platform, the China Summit on Caring for Climate convened representatives from Chinese and international companies, the Chinese Government, the United Nations and other stakeholders to showcase and scale up efforts on topics such as low-carbon technologies and green solutions; climate finance that drives economic development; green ecology and desertification (including adaptation); and ways in which the private sector can support national climate change policy priorities.

The Summit also featured the importance of youth engagement in the climate discussion with a view to improve the awareness of climate change among all members of society, with educational activities organized for and by children and youth. 

The Chinese Government has issued national programmes and included the construction of ecological civilization in the Chinese “Five in one” policy to drive sustainable development in China. Local Government at all levels are developing specific policies to pursue green and low-carbon development. Companies in China are also converging to advance this agenda through innovation, collaboration and adaptation.

At the Summit, the latest goals, policies, regulations and measures of the Chinese Government to address climate change were introduced, in addition to corporate best practices, technologies and partnerships on pursuing sustainable development and tackling environment-related challenges. Financial institutions introduced responsible investment and the innovation by the financial sector in driving green development. 

Today’s Summit feeds into the initiatives of Caring for Climate, the largest global business initiative on climate change co-led by the UN Global Compact, the UN Environment Programme and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Additional issues featured at the Summit that are part of the C4C portfolio include: carbon pricing and business leadership criteria; Climate and Energy Action Hub; and business and climate change adaptation. The event builds on the first China Summit on Caring for Climate organized by the Global Compact Network China in 2013, which convened 350 representatives from of Chinese companies, media and the public sector.

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In a related effort, the UN Global Compact entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 24 June with China Youth Daily, to raise awareness on corporate sustainability and climate change among Chinese youth. In preparation for the UN Secretary General's Summit on Climate Change this September, the two organizations will launch a campaign on "CSR Youth Ambassadors" among 25 million college students in China from June through October 2014, with a focus on climate change and youth contributions. 

"Youth engagement is one of the most challenging and important efforts taking place around the world. Through forming healthy lifestyles and sustainable consumption patterns, among others, youth can make a positive contribution in responding to important global challenges such as climate change,” said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, at the signing ceremony. “I welcome this strategic partnership with China Youth Daily, as Chinese youth can indeed drive the future sustainability of the country and affect the rest of the world as responsible citizens.” 

"We are very proud to partner with the UN Global Compact and believe through working together, Chinese youth can better understand the global issues and strive to be part of the solution. As media we have the responsibility to guide youth to be drivers for a more sustainable future,” said Zhang Kun, Editor in Chief of China Youth Daily. 

About Caring for Climate
Caring for Climate is the UN Global Compact, UN Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s initiative aimed at advancing the role of business in addressing climate change. It was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2007 to mobilize a critical mass of business leaders to implement climate change solutions and help shape international public policy. Chief executive officers who endorse the initiative are prepared to set goals, develop and expand strategies and practices, and to publicly disclose emissions as part of their existing disclosure commitment within the UN Global Compact framework, that is, the Communication on Progress – Climate. Caring for Climate is endorsed by over 350 companies from 65 countries. www.caringforclimate.org

•    More information on the China Summit on Caring for Climate
•    More information on China Youth Daily 

Contacts

Lila Karbassi
Head, Environment and Climate
UN Global Compact
karbassi@un.org 

Meng Liu
China Representative
UN Global Compact
lium@un.org