Register in Beijing as a New Platform for Cooperation between Chinese and Foreign Cities
In March 2018, ICLEI East Asia opened its Beijing Representation Office after receiving the registration certificate for foreign NGO representation offices, marking the establishment of the 22nd office of ICLEI globally.
At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Representation Office, Gino van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI, hailed the establishment of the office and envisioned its promising future, "This is an important milestone in the history of ICLEI. I am confident that the Beijing Representation Office will facilitate exchanges and cooperation in sustainable development between cities in China and other countries. It will also present an opportunity for other cities around the world to learn more about the governance experience of Chinese cities such as Beijing." Ashok Sridharan, then Chairman of the Global Executive Committee of ICLEI City and Mayor of Bonn, Germany, said, "As a cosmopolitan city, Beijing has a favorable environment for international exchanges, providing strong support and guarantees for the operation of international organizations like ICLEI. In addition, Beijing has achieved remarkable results in environmental governance, urban transformation and international cooperation, setting a good example for cities across the world. I have full confidence in the future of the Beijing Representation Office."
Left: The Opening Ceremony of ICLEI East Asia Beijing Representation Office
Right: ICLEI Beijing Representation Office
Serve as a Bridge to Facilitate Beijing's Participation in Global Environment and Climate Governance
As the only subnational government network accredited as an observer of all three cornerstone international agreements coming out of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), ICLEI has leveraged its extensive global network and abundant resources to support Beijing's participation in relevant activities under the framework of major UN environmental and climate conventions, and shared Beijing's experience in promoting environmental and climate governance.
In December 2019, ICLEI invited Beijing to attend the NDC Partnership Session at the UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 in Madrid, Spain. Representatives from Beijing shared experience with counterparts from cities in Vietnam, Mongolia and Sri Lanka under the theme of Climate Change Goals Implementation Enabled by Multi-Level Governance and Green Cities. They presented Beijing's progress in recent years in developing a carbon emission trading mechanism with granular data, including how to strengthen carbon trading regulations and policies and build an effective carbon trading system. Their presentations were well received by other attendees who were impressed by Beijing's practice and believed that other cities could draw on its experience to address climate change and go green. Many participants also expressed their wish to learn more from Beijing when possible.
ICLEI conducts a case study on Beijing's Pilot Emission Trading System.
The organization also leveraged its strength in technologies, talent and platforms to further support Beijing in strengthening exchanges with foreign cities and promoting its approach to low-carbon development. After the COP25, ICLEI conducted a case study on Beijing's successful experience in building and implementing a carbon emission trading mechanism to meet the needs of those representatives who wanted to learn more about Beijing's experience, with the support of Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau and other relevant agencies. The study elaborated on Beijing's experience and practices and provided concrete and feasible policy suggestions for other cities to establish similar carbon emission trading markets. The head of ICLEI's East Asia Secretariat said, "We believe this 12-page study will serve as an important reference for policymakers and city planners around the world who are looking for low-carbon development strategies." In March 2021, at an international city exchanges seminar co-hosted by the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat and relevant international organizations, representatives from Beijing gave detailed answers to the questions about Beijing's carbon emissions trading mechanism in which participants from India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries were particularly interested. The heated discussion deepened the exchanges and mutual learning between the cities.
Offer Training to Cultivate Talent That Serves the High-Quality Development of Beijing
In recent years, ICLEI has strengthened cooperation with Beijing in talent training in urban governance such as urban transformation, circular economy, urban resilience and disaster mitigation, and carbon neutrality, promoting Beijing's sustainable development by providing opportunities for relevant governmental departments in Beijing to participate in international exchanges and learn international governance experience.
From May 19 to 24, 2019, five secretaries of the Party working committee of subdistricts from Xicheng, Shijingshan, Tongzhou, Changping and Yanqing districts of Beijing were invited to Seoul to participate in the Capacity Building Workshop for Chinese Local Government Civil Servants hosted by ICLEI. During the six-day training, staff from relevant governmental departments of Seoul and experts from local universities and research institutes offered informative courses. Chinese representatives visited the Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Energy Dream Center, learning about Seoul's policies on the environment, climate and transportation as well as its successful cases. The trainees also participated in the Seoul International Forum on Air Quality Improvement 2019, in which they discussed atmospheric quality improvement programs with local citizens, air quality experts, and representatives from international organizations. Sun Guangjun from Desheng Subdistrict, Xicheng District said, "Although the training has ended, it will continue to inspire me. Going forward, I will put into use the ways and means I learned in this workshop to improve air quality in our subdistrict, to make our sky bluer, water cleaner, city more liveable, and people's lives better."
Members of the workshop visit the Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Energy Dream Center, etc.
Progress Together Towards a More Sustainable Future
Zhu Shu, Chief Representative of the Beijing Representation Office, said, "From the registration and establishment of the representation office to its operation, we have received great support and assistance from relevant Beijing authorities in the past four years. Based on the needs of Beijing and other Chinese cities, ICLEI has organized numerous activities in key areas such as low carbon development, resilience, recycling, and nature conservation. In recent years, these efforts have been recognized by an increasing number of cities, giving us more confidence in the prospect of the Beijing Representation Office and its development in China. In the coming years, ICLEI and Beijing will continue to deepen cooperation in various areas and use the Beijing Representation Office as a base to support Chinese cities in taking innovative actions for sustainable development to move together towards a green, low-carbon, inclusive, resilient and sustainable future."
About ICLEI
Founded in 1990, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments across 125 countries. It's committed to global sustainability by driving local governments' action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. The ICLEI World Secretariat is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, and the ICLEI East Asia is based in Seoul, South Korea. ICLEI has 24 offices across the world including the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat Beijing Office founded in March 2018.
(Photo: Beijing Representation Office of ICLEI East Asia Secretariat)
(Source: Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, Beijing Representation Office of ICLEI East Asia Secretariat)
