Powering the Twin Engines: Navigating China-EU Climate Cooperation

In the 50 years since China and the EU established diplomatic relations, the people of the world have become ever more aware of the need to take care of our precious planet. But how well are we doing at changing our future for the better?

Now, CGTN Europe, teaming up with Dr. Wang Binbin from the Institute of Carbon Neutrality Institute at Peking University, has helped produce a joint research program with Dr. Chiara Antonelli, Head of the Climate and Circular Economy Program at the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP). 

Launched in Brussels, Powering the Twin Engines: Navigating China-EU Climate Cooperation is an in-depth analysis of how these two great powers have been increasingly spearheading the move towards a green future. The report pledges four points of recommendations, calling on China and the EU to play the role of twin engines to fortify international climate governance, accelerate green transition, expand collaborations and increase bottom-up climate actions.  

China's first Special Envoy on Climate Change, Xie Zhenhua, and former Director General for Climate Action of the European Commission, Jos Delbeke, wrote forewords for the report, hailing the joint efforts made by both sides to uphold global governance to tackle climate change.     

Reproduced below is the report's Executive Summary, to give you a taste. The full report is downloadable at Powering the Twin Engines.

Executive Summary 

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, which is an important milestone that connects the past and the future.

Among the global challenges that China and the EU face, with increased urgency for a solution, climate change scores high as a priority. Climate change poses severe risks to the global population and ecosystems. Changing natural systems and making weather more extreme, climate change adversely impacts key features of our societies, spanning health and well-being, food production, infrastructure, and water availability. Acting in the current – albeit rapidly closing – window of opportunity can steer away from the worst impacts and is thus key.

As such, pivotal actions are needed to put in place on a global scale to
1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change – climate mitigation – and
2) increase resilience to the impacts of climate change – climate adaptation.
The launch of the international climate negotiation process under the United Nations (UN) framework in 1990 marked the official beginning of global climate governance. Over the past three decades, global climate governance has evolved continuously, achieving many positive developments despite numerous challenges.

Cooperation between China and the EU in the field of climate change began as early as the 1990s. China's rapid development in renewable energy complements the EU's leading expertise in clean energy technology. This collaboration has resulted in significant achievements for both parties.

To implement the consensus reached by the Chinese and EU leaders, a high-level dialogue mechanism on environment and climate was established between the two blocs in 2020. So far, the two sides have held five consecutive high-level dialogues on climate and environment, further deepening the China-EU green partnership and jointly leading the multilateral process of climate governance.

Global climate cooperation and governance cannot be separated from the joint leadership role of China and the EU. As two of the largest economies in the world, the cooperation between China and the EU shows that multilateralism is crucial to address climate change globally and rebuild balance between humans and nature.

This report examines the history of China-EU climate cooperation from four key perspectives: climate mitigation through energy transition, climate adaptation and synergies, climate finance and climate action, and exploring prospects for future cooperation. Based on this short review, we recommend that China and the EU work together as twin engines to show their joint leadership for global climate governance and promote a green transition marked by justice and inclusiveness. This partnership can mobilize further climate action towards a sustainable future with hope for all.

Considering the rapid changes that have occurred over the past century and the interconnected international landscape, China and the EU need to maintain strategic communication, strengthen mutual partnership awareness, expand open cooperation, and uphold multilateralism. These actions align with the core values and interests of both parties and will contribute to the advancement of China- EU relations, ultimately aiding in efforts to promote global stability and prosperity.

In the magnificent river of history, two great thinkers from the East and the West, Confucius and Aristotle, left valuable intellectual wealth for future generations with their unique wisdom. Although they lived in different regions and eras, their thoughts had a profound understanding and pursuit of the concept of "balance". Their view inspires us to respect nature, comply with natural laws, and achieve a sustainable future with the harmony between human and nature.

Download the full report at Powering the Twin Engines