South-South Cooperation for ecological civilization

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Yumkella, Kandeh / Gu Xueming / John Forgach / Imme Scholz / Li Lin / Zou Ji / Han Chuanfeng / Dong Zhanfeng / Wang Tao / Mao Xiaojing
External Publications (2016)

Beijing: China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (Annual Conference of CCICED)

In 2015, China made a series of commitments to harness its South-South cooperation (SSC) for the promotion of sustainable development. Large volumes were pledged to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and specifically development in Africa, at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. How to deliver on these promises is an important issue facing the Chinese government.

The Chinese equivalent for sustainable development is ecological civilization. It is included in the 13th Five-Year Plan as a concept of development being innovative, harmonious, green, open, and sharing. Ecological civilization is a reaction to increasing environmental pressures at home, and it is now projected also to inform China’s increasing global activities ("Belt and Road Initiative"). It also informs China’s understanding of its global responsibilities as a large country within the multilateral system.

The report analyses the current state of Chinese South-South cooperation (SSC) for ecological civilization and contrasts it with the experience of developed countries in development assistance for the environment. Based on a survey, the demand of developing countries for cooperation in the environment is described, including also the challenges SSC is facing in this area. Then, China’s priority areas for SSC are analysed, based on where China has developed own competencies in domestic problem-solving, and compared with the demand as manifest in the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets. Finally, policy recommendations are made for promoting Chinese SSC towards ecological civilization and a roadmap is drawn up for steps to be taken until 2050.

About the author

Scholz, Imme

Sociologist