On Friday, November 21, as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, the China Pavilion hosted a high-level session on global climate cooperation at the local level.
The event brought scholars, former government officials and international organization representatives together to explore how provinces, states and cities can drive emissions reduction, green transition and resilience. Deborah Seligsohn, former Environment, Science and Health Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in China and now an associate professor at Villanova University, shared insights from her joint research with Hu Bin, associate professor at Tsinghua University.
During the roundtable, experts highlighted that subnational cooperation is emerging as one of the most dynamic and innovative components of global climate governance. Through city alliances, linked regional carbon markets and collaboration in green industries, local governments are translating broad climate targets into concrete actions.
Looking forward, participants called for stronger cross-regional cooperation platforms, improved mechanisms for policy and technical exchange and deeper collaboration in areas such as energy transition, sustainable infrastructure and climate finance. These steps, they argued, will be critical for turning shared goals into on-the-ground impact.
As COP30 continues, sessions like this one at the China Pavilion underscore the pivotal role of local actors in shaping a resilient, low-carbon future.
Reference(s):
COP30: China Pavilion highlights global cooperation at local level
cgtn.com
