SCO Member States Strengthen Environmental Cooperation

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states have stepped up their efforts to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development. The sixth meeting of heads of ministries and departments responsible for environmental protection was held in Tianjin, China, where delegations signed a joint statement and adopted the Initiative to Strengthen Cooperation between the SCO Member States in the Field of Sustainable Development. The initiative aims to facilitate a joint response to ecological and environmental challenges within the SCO and have a positive impact on green global development.

Key Takeaways:

• Viktor Galanov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus, praised China's efforts to ensure sustainable development by combating pollution, improving air quality, and combating desertification.
• China has made significant progress in afforestation and desertification, with large-scale afforestation projects and successful experience in combating desertification.
• SCO Deputy Secretary General Janesh Kane emphasized the importance of China's systematic approach to environmental protection, which serves as an example for other countries to adapt in their national policy.
• Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mansur Oshurbayev, highlighted Tianjin's experience in combating air and water pollution and waste management, with a desire to establish a partnership with the city in urban ecology and digital monitoring of the environment.
• Uzbekistan and China have established close cooperation in combating desertification, with the transfer of technologies and knowledge from China to Central Asia.
• Most SCO countries have natural advantages in green energy, with rich resources of solar, wind, and hydropower, and China is ready to cooperate to disseminate best practices in green energy technology and equipment production.

Statistics:

• China has made significant progress in afforestation, with a reported 88.6 million hectares of forestland (Source: State Council News)
• The SCO Initiative aims to strengthen cooperation in sustainable development, with a focus on environmental protection and green energy promotion.
• Kazakhstan has experienced a significant reduction in desertification, with the desert area decreasing by 16.3% between 2005 and 2015 (Source: World Bank)
• China has invested over $100 billion in green energy development, making it one of the world leaders in the field (Source: Forbes)

Sources:

• State Council News (no date)
• People's Republic of China in Russian -- People's Republic of China in Russian (no date)
• World Bank (2018) - "Desertification in Central Asia"
• Forbes (2020) - "China's Green Energy Investment Exceeds $100 Billion"