It is very encouraging to see that many policies in China has been focused on the environmental issues like low carbon economy, green development and renewable material, said EU commissioner for climate action Connie Hedegaard.

Hedegaard made the remarks at a press conference held in Beijing, April 24, 2014. Her visit to China is part of the on-going discussion between China and the EU on conversation of the climate change.

She has expressed the hope that China’s strong dedication to deal with the climate change could be reflected around the negotiation table.

Responsibility for all the countries

Confronting the climate change, all countries should do more and take actions earlier. A recent report shows the proportion of the common challenge we are facing with is simply so big, that only if all counties in the world join in and take responsibility that the world is able to handle the climate change challenge, she said.

China joins the carbon pricing family

Europe and China have had a very long cooperation in this field, and it is getting strengthened all the time. Recently, President Xi attended the EU-China summit which concluded with a declaration on climate cooperation, stronger cooperation between cities and organizations. "This time we aim to discuss with our Chinese counterparts in Beijing for strengthening cooperation," said Hedegaard.

Another field of cooperation is carbon pricing. China has joined the family of countries that are pricing carbon. There are now six pilot schemes up running for emissions trading in China. Hedegaard believes it is very much the future, and she expressed the thrill to see the development in the pilot schemes in China and hoped the pilot projects could go well, ending up in a national way of pricing carbon in China.