Ladies and Gentlemen,
To start with, I wish to express, on behalf of the Chinese Government, warm congratulations on the successful opening of the Third World Climate Conference (WCC-3)!
Climate is the natural environment which the mankind depends on for living and the important basic resources for sustainable economic and social development. The global climate change, mainly characterized by climate warming, is an unequivocal reality. Climate change leads to frequent occurrence of disastrous climate events, accelerated melting of glaciers and snow covers, unbalanced distribution of water resources and endangered biodiversity, and has profound and long-lasting impact on economic and social livelihood and sustainable development of human beings. Never before have the issues of climate and climate change received so much concern and attention from all governments, been so much cared and worried about by people around the world, and been so much focused on and thought about by various international organizations. The issue of climate change calls for common and active responses from the international community, as it concerns the well-being of all peoples and the global sustainable development. Therefore, it is both necessary and important to convene at this particular time the WCC-3 on the theme of "climate prediction and information for decision-making". It will have significant and long-lasting implications on in-depth understanding of climate and climate change by the international community, and bring about positive and effective impetus to applications of more tailored climate services in national economic and social development.
Since the Second World Climate Conference in 1990, relevant international organizations have launched a series of programs and actions in the field of climate science. Substantive achievements were made in building up the global climate observing system, improving the accuracy of climate prediction and delivering climate information for policy-makers. Awareness of climate and climate change by the international community has also been raised. The Chinese Government appreciates the WMO and relevant international organizations for their tireless efforts and fruitful work.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China, with complex climatic conditions, fragile ecological environment and frequent natural disasters, is vulnerable to climate change. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to meteorological work and climate services, and has established a multi-level climate service network at national, provincial, city and county levels, providing services throughout the country. We have provided not only routine climate services such as climate prediction, detection and relevant information delivery, but also a wide range of specialized climate services, particularly in the fields of agricultural disaster prevention and mitigation, flood control and drought relief, typhoon preparedness, transportation, disease control, forest and grassland fire prevention. We have also strengthened the services in climate monitoring, prediction and early warning, timely disseminated relevant information to the public through various channels, and provided decision-making services to the government in mobilizing resources for disaster rescue and relief, thus achieving significant outcomes in disaster reduction and economic and social benefits. All these have been well recognized both at home and abroad. The Beijing Climate Center (BCC), set up in 2003, was formally designated in this June by the WMO as a Regional Climate Center for Asia to provide the Asian countries with climate prediction information and to promote the development of regional climate services in Asia.
The Chinese Government will continue to vigorously support the climate observation, research, prediction and assessment,promote the application of climate information in economic and social life, and advance the development of climate services. We will further foster the concept of developing "public meteorology, security-oriented meteorology and natural resource-oriented meteorology". Focusing on improving climate service capabilities, we will further improve the accuracy of climate monitoring and forecasting, the time effectiveness of early disaster warnings, the proactive meteorological responses. We will make good use of climate resources in an effort to minimize climate-related risks. To this end, we will pay great attention to addressing the most basic issues in climate science, support regional and international climate information sharing in order to scientifically understand the climate behavior. In particular, we hope that scientists around the world would intensify research on the generation, development and impact of extreme weather and climate events, and on reduction of climate risks facing the security of water resources and ecosystem, so as to enhance the capability on preventing natural disasters, safeguarding food security and achieving sustainable economic and social developments.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Climate change is the common challenge faced by the mankind. As the largest developing country in the world, China faces enormous tasks in developing its economy, eradicating poverty and improving people's livelihood, but it still attaches great importance to climate change. China was the first developing Climate Change Program. China has clearly stated that, from 2005 to 2010, its energy consumption per unit GDP will be reduced by about 20%, main pollutants emissions by 10%, and its forest coverage be increased to 20% from 18%. The proportion of renewable energy in primary energy consumption will go up to 10% from 7.5%. To respond more effectively to climate change, China has established a national leading group on climate change, and has adopted a series of policies and measures in adjusting economic and industrial structures, phasing out backward production facilities, growing recycling industries, saving energy, improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energies. Thanks to our unremitting efforts, positive results have been achieved in energy saving and emission reduction, with the energy consumption per unit GDP reduced by 10.1% from 2006 to 2008. Over the past 30 years, China has afforested more than 54 million hectares of land and become the country with the largest afforestation in the world.
As a responsible country, China maintains that the international community should work together to jointly address climate change through effective international cooperation. The international financial crisis has seriously affected the global economy, and China's economy has also been greatly impacted. Nevertheless, our determination to address climate change remains unchanged, and we will not slacken our efforts. We will continue to actively participate in and advance the process of addressing climate change by the international community and promote positive achievements in the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen. We will remain committed to the basic frameworks of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and to sustainable development. We advocate that the Copenhagen conference should strictly follow the authorization of the Bali Road Map, further strengthen the comprehensive, effective and sustained implementation of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, and consider in a coordinated manner mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and financial support. The developed countries should continue to take the lead in undertaking quantified emission reduction commitments, and the developing countries should make contributions as their ability permits. China will be firmly committed to the road of sustainable development, implement vigorous domestic policy-measures and actions, assume international obligations that are commensurate with our development stage, due responsibilities and actual capacities, and work with the international community to look after the planet Earth - the common home of the mankind.
Atmosphere recognizes no borders, and international cooperation transcends boundaries. Preparedness for and reduction of meteorological disasters, adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, exploration and utilization of climate resources are not only major issues of concern for China, but also for the whole world. It is imperative for all countries to strengthen cooperation in wider range, greater depth and broader areas. Together with the international community, the Chinese Government will take practical and feasible measures and actions, conduct close cooperation, and promote the climate services in multiple aspects, so as to provide better climate services for the benefit of the mankind, and to make new contributions to the sustainable development of the human society.
I wish the WCC-3 a complete success! Thank you all.