China vows to protect nature and work with other nations ahead of UN biodiversity summit

Country will ‘uphold the idea of a shared future for humanity and nature’, Beijing says in white paper released days before COP15 conference

It also pledges to collaborate with the international community on a new global biodiversity governance model ‘that is fairer and more reasonable’

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Conservation areas have helped to expand the habitats and numbers of some protected species like giant pandas, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:00pm, 8 Oct 2021Updated: 11:33pm, 8 Oct 2021

Beijing released a biodiversity white paper pledging to protect nature and work with other countries on Friday, ahead of a United Nations summit in southwest China next week.

“China will uphold the idea of a shared future for humanity and nature, treat biodiversity conservation as an important part of eco-civilisation, and continue to modernise its biodiversity governance system and capabilities,” the white paper said.

“It will work together with the international community on a new model of global biodiversity governance that is fairer and more reasonable, with each member contributing its share.”

The policy paper came just days before the UN Biodiversity Conference, known as COP15, is due to be held in the Chinese city of Kunming from Monday. The conference aims to set goals for tackling the biodiversity crisis up to 2030 and longer-term plans for the middle of the century.

Zhao Yingmin, vice-minister of ecology and environment, told reporters at a briefing on Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic “has warned us of the interdependence between human and nature”.

“The international community needs to strengthen cooperation and face the risks and challenges of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation together,” Zhao said.