SCO Forum Adopts Ningbo Initiative for Green Development

Ningbo. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Green and Sustainable Development concluded in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Ningbo on Thursday. The conference, held from April 29 to 30, adopted the Ningbo Initiative, setting new perspectives and future plans for climate change, environmental protection, and the promotion of a green economy.

The three-day event, jointly organized by the Chinese SCO Committee on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Zhejiang Provincial Government, explored new avenues for environmental issues and cooperation.  

Representatives from 10 member states of the organization, as well as 16 other countries associated with the SCO (observers and dialogue partners), participated in the forum. Approximately 300 participants, including representatives from environmental bodies, entrepreneurs, experts, scientists, and politicians, attended the event, which aimed to promote practical cooperation in the field of green and sustainable development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, sending his best wishes to the conference participants, emphasized China's significant contribution to building a global ecological civilization. Participants also praised the host nation's efforts, stating that China is now a global leader in reducing harmful emissions, planting trees, and securing carbon sinks.

The most significant achievement of the conference was the unanimous adoption of the 'Ningbo Initiative' on SCO cooperation in sustainable development, titled 'Joint Development of Ecology Towards a Green Future.' This initiative has been put forward to address challenges such as growing global governance deficits, delays in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and issues like climate change and the digital divide. This agreement aims to build a fair, equitable, and win-win global environmental governance system through the SCO mechanism covering the Eurasian continent.

According to the adopted initiative, member states will now implement the SCO Heads of State Council's statement on addressing climate change and contribute to global green and low-carbon transition. Policies, regulations, and standards will be exchanged on air pollution control and the coordinated governance of climate change.  

Similarly, based on the China-SCO Ecology and Environment Innovation Base, it has been agreed to intensify joint research and development by establishing partnerships in green and low-carbon technologies.

Furthermore, the initiative includes connecting the digital and intellectual development of ecology and the environment with green industries, increasing the use of advanced concepts such as resource conservation, energy efficiency, and low-emission development, and establishing a workforce training system that covers the entire chain of green development.  

Policy and technical tools will be developed for green investment and financing and carbon market construction. To this end, it has been agreed to explore additional financial channels for green projects in coordination with international organizations and financial institutions. The Ningbo Initiative also gives high priority to advancing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and sharing practical experiences and technical achievements for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

During the event, detailed discussions were held on ideas and opportunities for implementing new projects. Dalian University of Technology in China presented the latest developments in clean energy, wind turbines, energy storage, and scientific risk assessment through an open exhibition, complete with data and diagrams.  

In addition, other countries also shared their unique experiences at the forum. On the sidelines of the conference, the secretariat and the SCO committee also organized a children's painting exhibition from SCO countries titled 'Green SCO, A Beautiful Future.'

Concluding the event, SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohel Khan stated that the ideas expressed at the forum have provided new direction. 'Everyone who spoke here expressed something new. Their speeches included new ideas, their vision for a new future, and how to move forward in that direction,' Khan said, 'They have simply revealed that such directions and possibilities exist.'  

It was concluded that this conference has deepened the green partnership among member states to jointly promote regional green and low-carbon transition and move towards a sustainable future.