Former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Sha Zukang: Climate action and economic development must be balanced
"Climate and environmental issues are increasingly inseparable from economic trade. Green competitiveness characterized by green and low-carbon levels is reshaping global industrial chains, supply chains and international trade rules." At the Global Green Economy Development Forum held in Beijing on September 12, Sha Zukang, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Honorary Chairman of the International Green Economy Association, said.
Actively responding to climate change and promoting the realization of "carbon neutrality" are the common goals and actions of all countries around the world. However, the historical and actual emission responsibilities of developed and developing countries are different, and their development levels and capabilities are also different. Sha Zukang believes that the formulation of an international climate governance mechanism should adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the principle of different capabilities. These principles need to be reflected in the entire process of formulating international rules.
He introduced that in terms of climate action and international trade rules, the current implementation of the climate trade carbon border adjustment mechanism is a typical "producer responsibility mechanism." In view of the differences in international trade and industrial division of labor, the international community should promote the principle of "shared responsibilities among producers and consumers", reach and establish a carbon emission liability mechanism based on this principle, and formulate international climate trade rules. Sha Zukang said that only such principles, mechanisms and rules are in line with climate justice transformation, can they more effectively encourage global industrial and supply chains to jointly reduce emissions, and achieve climate goals and sustainable prosperity in international trade.
Global climate governance is for the sustainable development of the global economy. He believes that "climate action" and "economic development" must take into account each other and advance in a balanced manner. This is not a relationship between one side and the other, but to jointly achieve higher-level and higher-quality sustainable development for all countries. On the path of green and low-carbon transformation of the global economy, promoting the stability and development of industrial and supply chains is beneficial to all parties. Actively building consensus on multilateral cooperation and jointly building win-win international relations is the only way to solve problems.
China has always insisted on actively responding to climate change and transforming climate change goals and tasks into endogenous driving forces to promote green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and high-quality development. Since the beginning of this year, the Chinese government has intensively introduced a series of policies focusing on "carbon emission management" and "international trade" and made corresponding arrangements. It proposes to "build a product carbon footprint management system","promote mutual trust in international rules on product carbon footprint", and "proactively align with international high-standard economic and trade rules."
Sha Zukang believes that the so-called "international high-standard economic and trade rules" must be fair, just and reasonable rules, and are formulated with the joint participation of all parties or acceptable to all parties. The Chinese government is making every effort to promote the timely realization of the "double carbon" goals, actively promote the integrated development of "climate change" and "international trade", explore effective ways for the sustainable development of the global economy, and propose a "China Plan".
He said that it is necessary to strengthen energy conservation and emission reduction management and carbon footprint system construction, promote the transformation and upgrading of high-carbon industries, promote green and low-carbon development of industrial structure and energy structure, and create a globally competitive green industrial chain and supply chain. It is an important response to climate trade. Measures are also inevitable choices to promote high-quality and sustainable economic development.
