The UN Biodiversity Conference, also known as COP15, closed on a note on October 15 and brought a joint commitment and pledges of funding to help countries take action, according to the South China Morning Post on the same day. During the COP15, 195 participating countries put pledges to reverse losses of animal and plant species by 2030, as well as an RMB1.5bn (USD232.47m) donation by China to a biodiversity fund. As announced by Present Xi, China will take the lead and set up the RMB1.5bn Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support biodiversity development in developing countries. The COP15 on biodiversity held in Kunming both online and offline is phase one of the conference, while phase two will be launched offline in 2022.

Nowadays, forests and natural ecosystems around the world are being rapidly destroyed. Scientists warned that if too many ecosystems vanish, their basic life support services for humans can falter. For instance, plants can absorb carbon dioxide, while carbon dioxide is the main factor of planet heating. So better protecting and expanding natural areas is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to slow climate change.

Besides the biodiversity fund, China also pledged to accelerate the development of renewable energy in China, according to news agency Xinhua. China will accelerate large-scale photovoltaic and wind power projects in deserts and nearby areas. The first phase of these projects with a planned installed capacity of about 100 gigawatts (GW) started construction recently. Furthermore, China is speeding up to establish a protected areas system with national parks as the mainstay. To achieve its 2030 carbon peak and 2060 carbon neutrality targets, China will gradually release implementation plans in key areas and sectors to form a “1+N” policy framework around the 30-60 targets.

Reference

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3152542/cop15-biodiversity-summit-china-ends-un-hailing-renewed-optimism

http://www.xinhuanet.com/mrdx/2021-10/13/c_1310241781.htm

https://news.trust.org/item/20210616131101-kf2j0/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/cop15-xi-jinping-announces-233-million-biodiversity-protection-fund-at-un-meet-101634061080875.html

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-12/Xi-addresses-COP15-leaders-summit-via-video-link-14iuyQtyg48/index.html