Minister Xie Zhenhua, China’s former Special Envoy on Climate Change, met with a delegation from the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG), led by Professor Sir David King, former UK Special Envoy on Climate Change, on 14 October 2024 in Beijing. Both parties agreed the following:
The latest Copernicus data shows a 1.64°C rise in global temperatures, underlining that climate change is not just a future threat—it is a present crisis. The impacts are being felt across the world, and this demands a stronger, more urgent global response. We urgently need multilateral commitments to more ambitious climate targets, which must be supported by efforts to address the growing costs of loss and damage globally. Without addressing these mounting costs, true progress will be difficult to achieve.
Global cooperation is critical—without it, there is no path to a safe and manageable future for the next generation. It has already delivered real progress, particularly in renewable energy, where innovation and collaboration have surpassed expectations. This proves that cooperation is vital for accelerating the changes needed to address the climate crisis.
Moving forward, we must expand that spirit of multilateral collaboration to technical advancements and institutional innovation to rapidly cut emissions and begin repairing our climate.
The science is clear. Our shared vision is that we will work together moving forward for bold, united action to secure a livable future for all.
During CCAG's visit, CCAG and representatives of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST in Guangzhou (HKUST GZ), also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the need to enhance international collaboration to tackle the existential threat of climate change.
