On October 19, 2024, the China-Pacific Island Countries Cooperation and Dialogue Conference on Climate Change was held in Liaocheng, Shandong Province. During the event, experts and scholars engaged in discussions regarding the impacts of climate change on Pacific Island nations and the practical cooperation between China and these nations.
In his opening remarks, former Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Gordon Darcy Lilo emphasized the significant threats posed by natural disasters such as tsunamis and floods to agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism in these regions, which endanger the livelihoods of their people. “Solar energy has tremendous potential to change the fate of Pacific Island countries. I hope to bring back more advanced technologies.” He also noted that two hydropower stations are currently under construction in his country in partnership with Chinese enterprises, which will help improve local electricity supply upon completion.
“Climate resilience is a crucial focus for us in addressing issues like coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events,” stated Regan Moses, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and National Resilience in Nauru. He shared that Nauru is currently relocating some communities to higher altitudes to create a greener, energy-efficient urban environment tailored to climate adaptation, envisioning sustainable “smart villages.” Within these smart villages, rainwater management systems are in place to withstand flooding, while smart transportation networks encourage residents to opt for walking, cycling, or electric vehicles, thereby reducing carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
Lü Xinming, Deputy Director-General of the Climate Change Department at China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, highlighted the shared experiences of developing countries in grappling with climate change. “China has signed 53 South-South cooperation memorandums on climate change with 42 developing countries and has conducted 69 South-South training sessions on climate response, training nearly 2,600 officials and technicians from over 120 developing nations.”
The China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center, established in April 2022 in Liaocheng, has organized ten robust research teams over the past two years, hosting a series of high-level academic conferences and training programs related to climate change. According to Li Changping, Secretary of the Liaocheng Municipal Committee, the center has signed strategic cooperation agreements with several domestic and international organizations, providing intellectual support to the global community for addressing climate change and ocean governance.
Additionally, on this day, the Liaocheng Climate Change Cooperation Fund was launched, aimed at supporting collaborative efforts, academic exchanges, educational training, and related public welfare initiatives in climate change and low-carbon economic development within the China-Pacific Island region. The China-Pacific Island Countries Green Development Cooperation Alliance and the China-Pacific Island Countries Vocational Education Alliance were also inaugurated.
