Dear visitor,

Welcome to the EU Climate Diplomacy Weeks in China.

Our planet has known one of its most devastating and warmest summers on record: forest fires in France, Russia and the United States; droughts in China and in the UK; devastating floods in Pakistan. Global warming is a threat for every one of us. It is a global issue that requires global action from all countries.

The EU will continue to do its fair share. We have adopted the European Green Deal that sets climate neutrality goals for EU countries. With the Climate Law, these goals have become legally binding. By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions in EU countries as a whole will decrease by 55% compared to 1990. By 2050, we will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The European Green Deal has been conceived as Europe's new inclusive growth strategy. We are leaving behind the slash-and-burn carbon economy, and moving to a clean, innovative, inclusive, and circular economy that allows us to restore biodiversity and cut pollution while creating growth, jobs, prosperity and health.

Given the current geopolitical situation and its consequences on energy, with soaring prices of fossil fuels, the EU has recently adopted REPowerEU - a plan to fast forward the green transition, save energy, diversify our energy supplies, and massively invest in renewables and energy efficiency. Thereby, we are responding to the energy crisis created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as the existential threat of climate change, and we are also supporting partner countries to do the same.

As the climate crisis accelerates, we need to accelerate our multilateral response. A number of important events will take place by the end of this year. In November, countries will gather in Sharm-El-Sheik, in Egypt. We hope that they will confirm their commitment to do all necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To this end, all countries must take decisive steps to transform their economies towards low carbon. And richer countries must help poorer ones.

Also this year, countries will gather in COP15 to look for a new framework to fight biodiversity loss. Climate and biodiversity crises are interrelated. Climate change accelerates the destruction of the natural world through droughts, flooding and wildfires. Biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of nature are in turn key drivers of climate change. The EU wishes that all countries can reach a commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. Allow me to take this opportunity to wish China the best in chairing this year’s Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) meeting on biodiversity, whose first part took place in Kunming last year.

The EU and China work closely together in climate issues. The EU-China High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue has taken place three times. We talk ahead of large international conferences to promote momentum globally and, at technical level, we help each other by exchanging good practices from our respective domestic policies. The EU hopes that China will keep its commitment to join the global fight against climate change.

During the Climate Diplomacy Weeks, EU Delegations and embassies of EU Member States around the world host events to foster dialogue and cooperation on climate change, showcase success stories and inspire further action. In China, we host several activities for experts and provide information on climate issues through our website and social media channels. I invite you to visit our website in the coming weeks to be updated on our activities.

Enjoy the visit and let us be united in fighting climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

Jorge Toledo