China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Tsinghua University jointly launched the Global South Climate Action Leadership Programme on the sidelines of the ongoing COP31 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Turkiye.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at the 14th High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change at China Pavilion.
Formally known as the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP31 opened on Monday and will run through Nov 20.
Addressing the forum, Li Gao, head of the Chinese delegation to COP31 and China's vice minister of ecology and environment, highlighted China's consistent efforts to promote South-South climate cooperation since 2011.
"Capacity-building has been an important component of these efforts," Li said. "To date, China has implemented more than 300 capacity-building programs, providing training to over 10,000 climate-related officials and technical professionals from more than 120 developing countries."
According to Li, as countries work to translate their Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans into policies, projects, and action on the ground, they have a growing demand for professionals who understand the multilateral climate process and can develop solutions grounded in their countries' national circumstances.
In response to these needs, China has joined with the UNFCCC Secretariat and other partners to initiate SCALE, he added.
Yang Bin, vice chair of the Tsinghua University Council, said that Tsinghua, as a co-initiator of SCALE, would draw on its strengths in academic research and its network of experts to support climate talent development in the Global South and foster sustained exchanges and cooperation.
According to the ministry, as a practical talent development program focused on climate implementation and action, SCALE aims to cultivate a new generation of local climate leaders in the Global South who can connect international climate governance with the implementation of climate policies in their own countries.
Through online preparatory sessions, in-person training and field visits, the program will help participants strengthen their capacities in climate governance, policy development, and project implementation.
It will also establish a long-term alumni network, promote opportunities for outstanding participants to pursue further studies in China, and invite program alumni to serve as mentors, building a growing community of climate professionals rooted in the Global South.
The first project under SCALE will be launched in 2027.
