South-South cooperation is widely recognized as a new important dimension of the global response to climate change, complementing the traditional North-South cooperation. This was the key message emerging from the first South-SouthCooperation on Climate Change (SSCCC) Forum, held in Lima in 2014 at the margins of COP20.
In recent years, China has demonstrated a strong political will to promote SSCCC. In September 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will make available 3.1 billion US dollars for setting up a new ‘China South-South Climate Fund’, to support low carbon and resilient development in the global South.
Whilst the world is highly expecting at COP21 a universal agreement capable of responding to climate change, it is fundamental to reflect on the role of South-South cooperation in its implementation. To this end, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will co-sponsor the second edition of the SSCCC Forum at COP21 in Paris.
