On September 14, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) held the meeting to commemorate the 2023 World Ozone Day. Mr. Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of MEE, attended and addressed the meeting.
The Meeting noted that, as a model of multilateralism, the success of the Montreal Protocol is the result of the parties' adherence to multilateralism, friendship and mutual trust, solidarity and joint efforts. It is also the result of the parties' 36 years of upholding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and consensus by parties, and relying on collective wisdom to forge ahead. As the largest developing country, the Chinese government has always strictly fulfilled its international commitments and has eliminated about 628,000 tons of ozone depleting substances (ODS) production and use. Research shows that in the 30 years from 1991 to 2020, China avoided about 26 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in the process of phasing out ODS, thereby making a significant contribution to climate change mitigation while protecting the ozone layer.
The meeting stressed that at present, global environmental problems occur frequently, posing severe challenges to the survival and development of mankind. We must resolutely uphold and practice multilateralism and remain committed to global environmental governance actions to protect the ozone layer and mitigate climate change. China will strive to overcome the issue of incomplete and uneven development, safeguard the implementation mechanism and outcomes of the Montreal Protocol, strictly fulfill the new requirements of the implementation of Kigali Amendment, strengthen supervision and management, continue to deepen international cooperation on the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, and make due contribution to the building of a community of life on Earth and to global sustainable development.
Ms. Megumi Seki, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, Ms. Tina Birmpili, Chief Officer of the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in China, Deputy Director General of the General Administration of Customs, and representative from China's research institution attended and addressed the meeting.
The meeting was held in a hybrid format of both in-person and online. The meeting was attended by more than 200 guests from international agencies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, member ministries of the National Leading Group for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, relevant departments and bureaus of MEE, local ecological and environmental bureaus, research institutions, industrial associations and implementation Experts.
