Chinese and Foreign Experts Discuss Clean Air and Climate Change at the 2019 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions

|ChinaNews|Published:2019-07-08 12:48:45

From July 8 to 9, the 2019 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions is held in Beijing. The forum aims to share the measures, progress, medium- and long-term planning, and long-term vision of international metropolises in air quality improvement and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, which provides international experiences and suggestions for Beijing's targeted policy and effective action to address air pollution and climate change. The Forum brought together officials and experts in air quality and climate change from the United Nations Environment (UN Environment), international metropolises such as Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Ulaanbaatar, and Hong Kong of China, and typical regions such as California and Lombardy, and also international and domestic experts long concerned about Beijing's air quality improvement process.

Chinese and Foreign Experts Discuss Clean Air and Climate Change at the 2019 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions

Yang Bin, Vice Mayor of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality was making a speech

Yang Bin, Vice Mayor of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, attended the opening ceremony. He said that Beijing is willing to provide the platform through this Forum to share the achievements and experiences of various regions and cities in tackling air pollution and climate change. "We need the wisdom of the world's major cities to solve Beijing's ecological and environmental problems, and at the same time, we are willing to share Beijing's story and contribute Beijing's experience to provide reference for more cities in the world, especially in developing countries", he added. Yang expressed the hope that the Forum is willing to receive the support from more cities and international organizations and extend the scope of exchanges to areas such as water and soil pollution prevention and control, with a view to a world-renowned forum on ecological and environmental exchanges.

Chinese and Foreign Experts Discuss Clean Air and Climate Change at the 2019 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions

Tu Ruihe, Head of UN Environment China Office was addressing a speech

Chinese and Foreign Experts Discuss Clean Air and Climate Change at the 2019 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions

Xiao Xuezhi, Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Ecology and Environment was delivering a speech

The theme of the first day was "Actions on Clean Air and Climate Change". Professor He Kebin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of the School of Environment of Tsinghua University, systematically introduced Beijing's practices and achievements in air pollution control over the past two decades, including environmental planning, legislation, standard, and enforcement underpinned by technological means such as air quality monitoring and evaluation, source apportionment, and emission inventory, supporting economic policies, public engagement, and joint prevention and control of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. He noted that this system provides a guarantee for the formulation, implementation and effectiveness of clean air action plan, and represents a wealth of knowledge and experience accumulated over the years.

In addition, Mr. Nathan Borgford-Parnell, Senior Atmospheric Expert of UN Environment's Climate & Clean Air Alliance, Mr. Jeremy C. Avise, Air Quality Planning and Research Specialist at California Air Resources Board, and participating city representatives, shared their latest policies, actions, results and next steps in the areas of air pollution control and climate change. Promoting the synergistic reduction of air pollutants and GHG emissions has become a common consensus in large cities of developed and developing countries. It will be more efficient and cost-effective for cities of developing countries.

Three parallel sessions took place on the second day, focusing on hot-spots and difficulties in air pollution control generally faced by big cities, such as regional coordinated air quality governance, urban climate change planning and action, and mobile source pollution legislation.

City representatives conducted discussions in each session. Experts from various cities shared their experiences on air pollution control and climate change challenges faced by international metropolises, and offered constructive suggestions on Beijing's air quality control and climate change planning.

Representatives of international metropolises spoke highly of Beijing's achievements in air pollution control and active efforts to cope with climate change over the years. They hope that the Forum will become a window for international metropolises to jointly tackle environmental challenges and promote global sustainable development.

More than 260 people attended the meeting, including representatives from UNEP, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, international organizations, and some provincial and municipal environmental departments, as well as Beijing municipal and district environmental departments.

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