UNEP hopes to work with China on communication strategies

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is looking forward to more cooperation with China on initiatives that focus on helping people develop greener lifestyles, Naysan Sahba, director of UNEP's Division of Communications and Public Information, said in Beijing.

Sahba said China's war against pollution was remarkable.

"I think that last year, a cessation of imports of certain waste was an important step and showed how the country is going to manage its base resources," he said. "Also, China is very clearly now a leader in climate action and is a key player in multilateral processes on the global stage. All that can be translated into very strong global leadership."

Sahba said he hoped UNEP and China can cooperate more in developing the country's communication strategies, such as on the illegal trade in wildlife, including advocacy, social mobilization, and behavioral changes at the subnational level. UNEP is now developing a guideline and tool kits to support training.

"You cannot transform someone's mindset about how they live with just a 30-second TV show or a tweet," he said. "You actually need a dedicated behavior change program that isn't just committed to raising awareness, but is actually transforming the knowledge base of citizens."