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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls on China to be a global leader in combating climate change
24 July 2009, Beijing – By investing in green growth and prioritizing clean energy, China can be a model not only for developing nations but the whole world in combating climate change, announced United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today in Beijing in an event to launch a joint initiative between the UN and Chinese government, aimed at promoting energy-saving lamps across the country. During his four-day visit to China, the UN Secretary-General is urging the country to continue growth and improve people’s living standards while at the same time following a sustainable path.
For China, the consequences of climate change could be dramatic, including desertification, severe droughts, and a negative impact on agricultural production. The lives and livelihoods of a billion people will be affected across Asia, and three hundred million of them will be in China. Mr. Ban explained that it must be the priority of the government to foster sustainable, green, and low-emissions development, and though posing as a huge crisis, it can in fact be an opportunity for China to both battle climate change and improve people’s lives.
“Without China, there can be no success this year on a new global climate framework,” said the Secretary-General, referring to the UN climate summit taking place this December in Copenhagen, where countries will come together to reach a new agreement to tackle climate change. He added that China’s approach to climate change can demonstrate to the world it is a responsible and forward-looking global player.
Mr. Ban applauded the efforts China has made to date: It has devoted a sizable portion of its national stimulus spending to renewable energy and green economic growth; it has become a world leader in wind and solar technology; and its dynamic renewable energy sector is worth nearly US$17 billion and employs close to one million workers. However, given the country’s large potential, the Secretary-General stated that China can further invest in a low-emissions future to “blaze a new trail for the world” and “create a new clean-energy path to prosperity.”
The Green Lights Project, launched today in Beijing during Ban’s visit, represents one of China’s current endeavors to reach sustainable development. Jointly organized by the United Nations and the Chinese Government with US$ 14 million funding support from the Global Environment Facility, the project aims to enhance promotion and higher utilization of energy saving lamps (ESLs) in China through the transformation of the local lighting products market and the phasing-out of incandescent lamp production and sales.
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