By Wang Hui
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- When the United Nations Climate Change Conference opened in Durban, South Africa earlier this month, the Chinese government's resolve and endeavor to actively respond to the global issue was once again evident. Given the country's impressive cohesion and willingness to shoulder greater international responsibilities, there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the nation's efforts to address climate change.
In fact, China's endeavor to protect the environment has moved beyond industrial policies and pollution control to deeper and broader aspects in recent years. The whole of society is being encouraged to adopt a low-carbon lifestyle and different localities are now more environmentally minded when mapping out plans for local economic and social development.
More and more officials at the local level now realize that climate change is not only a global and national issue but also a challenge they have to face in their everyday work. Indeed, to a certain extent, whether China can fulfill its pledges in emission cuts depends on whether different localities can effectively do their part.
In this regard, it is imperative to build up the capacity of local governments to pursue sustainable social and economic development. For many years, they have been reliant on a development pattern that emphasizes high GDP growth, ignoring the environmental costs. Local officials need a totally different mindset and new development mode so that they can address the challenge of climate change.
It is, therefore, heartening to see China's efforts to work with international partners to strengthen local governments' abilities to adapt more effectively to climate change. For example, officials in charge of local social and economic planning in northwest Qinghai province, Harbin of northeast Heilongjiang province and Hefei of East China's Anhui province have benefited from a bilateral cooperation project between China and Australia.
The project is funded by the Australian government and jointly implemented by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Trade to Future Training Center.
