Turning climate goals into concrete action

Li Gao, secretary-general of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, called on the high-level advisory body to the Chinese government to produce policy recommendations that directly support the implementation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30), while also tackling major global environmental and climate challenges.

"Policy research is the core work of CCICED, and the policy recommendations submitted to the Chinese government based on policy research and annual meeting discussions are one of the most important outcomes of the annual meeting," said Li, also vice-minister of ecology and environment, addressing a CCICED policy research dialogue as the three-day general meeting approached its end on Tuesday.

China's green and low-carbon development has entered a critical stage of implementation, he said. The council's recommendations should respond to immediate challenges while taking a forward-looking view of risks and opportunities from the perspective of the country's overall development plan.

Li called on the council to study how to improve the assessment mechanisms for the Beautiful China initiative and the country's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, strengthen coordination among different sectors, and make better use of carbon markets and green investment and financing tools.

"These efforts should provide strong decision-making support for the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan and make green development the most distinctive feature of high-quality development," he said.

The year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, as well as the final year of the council's phase VII and a transitional year as preparations begin for its phase VIII, Li said.

The world is facing the combined pressures of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. Global climate governance is shifting from setting targets to emphasizing implementation and tangible results, while China's efforts to reach its carbon peak have entered a decisive period, he added.

Against this backdrop, Li urged the council to use its position as a high-level international policy advisory platform to focus on the practical obstacles facing the green transition.

"The council should make full use of its unique strengths as a high-level consultation platform involving both Chinese and international experts, and turn its attention to strategic issues and complex challenges that affect the broader picture," he said.

These issues include managing the combined impacts of multiple environmental crises, translating new nationally determined contributions into action through institutional reform, improving the integration of renewable energy into the power system, and strengthening energy storage, Li said.

The council should also study viable pathways for the just transition of resource-dependent regions and explore how digital technologies can unlock the potential of green development while making the transition itself more sustainable, he said.

Li further called on the council to ensure that its recommendations respond to international concerns. These include implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in late 2022 under China's presidency, maintaining global climate action amid rising climate risks and supporting a just transition in developing countries.

"Policy recommendations should not be confined to China's domestic agenda. They should adopt a global perspective, help build a fairer and more inclusive partnership for the global transition, and contribute to stronger global environmental and climate governance," Li said.

Over the past year, the council organized more than 10 research projects on key issues related to the green transition. Li said many valuable views had emerged from the research and discussions among council members, special advisers and experts.

Looking ahead, Li said the council will advance preparations for its phase VIII, with a main research theme of accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.

It will focus on the relationship between green innovation and economic and social development, and continue serving as a bridge for international exchanges, he added.