Business for Nature kicks off programme of activity in China
Convened by Business for Nature’s new Chief Advisor to China, Wei Dong Zhou, on Monday, representatives from the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO) of the Chinese Ministry of Environment and Ecology (MEE) came together in Beijing with several influential business organizations including the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Tropical Forest Alliance, the World Economic Forum (WEF), WWF, The Nature Conservancy, SEE Foundation and others to discuss why nature is important for business and the role businesses can play to scale and speed up the collaboration, action and investment needed to create a nature-positive world.
Following President Xi Jinping’s announcement at the UN Environment Assembly in September to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, this meeting provides another positive signal of the willingness and cooperation that exists in China to tackle the interrelated issues of nature loss and climate change.
Eva Zabey, Executive Director of Business for Nature, welcomed the meeting participants and made opening remarks: “It’s positive to see China and Chinese business leadership on the global stage. In September, President Xi Jinping’s announcement demonstrated that China takes its responsibilities seriously and will deliver a solid green economic recovery plan post COVID-19. Under the leadership of China, and similar to the milestone Paris Agreement in 2015 on climate, at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) meeting in Kunming, we need to agree a new Global Biodiversity Framework. Only through collective action will governments, businesses and civil society be able to reverse nature loss by 2030,” she said.
Monday’s meeting was an opportunity to hear about how planning for COP15 is going, provide an update on China’s Business & Biodiversity Partnership (CBBP), share Business for Nature’s China Strategy on engaging with the business community and discuss how to encourage more businesses to add their support to the growing number calling to reverse nature loss in this decade.
“China’s national commitment is ambitious. As China will host COP15 in 2021, it is crucial that we engage more Chinese enterprises. Each organization should consider how to make full use of its strengths to fulfil their objectives and encourage more businesses in China to play their part”, said Zhu Chunquan, Head of Nature Initiatives & Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA), China, WEF Beijing Representative Office.
The World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Deputy Country Director FONG Wee Kean stated: “We think Business for Nature can play a key role in the run-up to and during the UN CBD COP15. We’re pleased to participate in this important initiative and will use our tools and data platforms to support where we can.”
Read more about the growing momentum on nature in China from Business for Nature’s Chief Advisor to China, Wei Dong Zhou in the World Economic Forum.
If you’re unfamiliar with the CBD process, read our Business Guide on why this meeting is so important and how businesses can engage.