From Responsibility to Action: Providing a New Paradigm for Global Climate Governance
Chen Yongjin, Associate Professor at the School of Geography and Environment, Liaocheng University ，
Chen Dezheng, Executive Deputy Director of the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center
The current global climate governance system faces severe challenges: developed countries' commitments are disconnected from their actions, developing countries face shortages of climate governance funds, and international cooperation mechanisms are in urgent need of improvement. Against this backdrop, how to restructure the allocation of responsibilities in global climate governance and how to help Pacific Island countries and other developing countries achieve a green breakthrough have become pressing issues for the international community.
As a responsible major developing country, China understands the unique situation and concerns of Pacific Island countries regarding climate change and is willing to make the greatest efforts to help Pacific Island countries enhance their capacity to cope with climate change, strengthen climate resilience, and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through financial support, material assistance, technological cooperation, economic and trade collaboration, and educational training. In practice, China has pioneered four major dimensions of cooperation:
First, building platforms to enhance climate resilience. Global climate change, characterized mainly by warming, poses significant threats and losses to Pacific Island countries. Enhancing the climate resilience of these countries is an essential part of climate governance. To comprehensively improve the capacity of Pacific Island countries to cope with climate change and strengthen their climate resilience, China has initiated the establishment of several multilateral cooperation platforms, represented by the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center. These platforms provide a replicable and reference model for global climate governance.
Second, empowering through technology: smart climate solutions. At the Dubai Climate Conference in 2023, the "Renewable Energy Technology Transfer Center" led by China received support from 127 countries. In November 2024, at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), China released the *China Action Plan on Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation (2025–2027)*. This plan clearly states that China will promote the construction of a safer and more climate-resilient future through practical measures such as helping developing countries enhance their early warning and adaptation capabilities to climate change.
Third, financial support: demonstrating commitment through action. China has established a special fund to carry out South-South cooperation on climate change. Since 2011, it has allocated approximately 1.2 billion yuan to support South-South cooperation on climate change, signed 40 cooperation agreements with 35 countries, and helped developing countries, including Pacific Island countries, enhance their capacity to cope with climate change. It has also trained about 2,000 officials and technical personnel in the field of climate change for nearly 120 developing countries.
The "Global Development Initiative" proposed by China lists climate change as a core issue, promising to add 3 billion US dollars in climate aid from 2024 to 2026 and establishing three mechanisms: a technology-sharing platform, a green finance alliance, and a carbon-inclusive network.
Fourth, talent training. In the process of assisting Pacific Island countries, China places great emphasis on the training of climate governance talent. So far, through multilateral cooperation platforms such as South-South cooperation and the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center, China has organized 45 training sessions on climate governance and related fields for Pacific Island countries. These sessions have covered more than 1,200 climate and environmental officials and cultivated 10,000 talents in the fields of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries. This has laid a solid talent foundation for enhancing the climate resilience of Pacific Island countries and achieving regional green, low-carbon, and sustainable development.
Published on June 5, 2025