2008 International Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change was held in Beijing on March 6 and 7. Vice Minister Wu Xiaoqing attended the workshop and gave an opening speech, in which he urged all countries to join hands and make unremitting efforts to strengthen biodiversity's role in mitigating and adapting to climate change as a contribution to global sustainable development.

Minister Wu first extended warm welcome on behalf of SEPA to all representatives and guests from in and abroad in the workshop. He said: As the New Year dawns, the world is undergoing a process of renewal. Representatives and experts from in and abroad are assembled together to hold this International Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change, a workshop which will have positive and profound impacts on global eco-environment conservation and sustainable development since we are here to discuss and exchange information on biodiversity and climate change.

Minister Wu continued to say that global warming has already made huge impacts on natural eco-systems, the human living environment and economic society. This means biodiversity adaptation to climate change is a necessary measure to protect biodiversity as well as an important approach to combat climate change. China is one of the most biodiversity-rich countries in the world. However, due to human intervention and climate factors, many ecosystems are being degraded and their vital life-support functions being lost. Many species communities are witnessing sharp declines. Some populations are below their minimum viable population size, implying impending extinction. The situation is much worse than previously estimated. According to the newly released China Species Red List，the proportions of endangered species, according to IUCN's standard criteria, in China are: 34.74% of invertebrates, 35.92% of vertebrates, 69.91% of gymnosperm and 86.63% of angiosperm. This far exceeds earlier estimates of between 2% and 30%. The Government of China attaches great importance to environmental issues including biodiversity conservation and climate change. Over the years, the Government of China is committed to promoting sustainable development strategy while focusing on economic development. A wide range of actions have been taken to achieve this, including industrial structural adjustment, economic growth pattern changes, active advocacy of renewable and clean energies, a series of initiatives in regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity conservation, as well as formulation and implementation of an extensive list of biodiversity-related legislations. By the end of 2006, 2,395 nature reserves have been established, covering 1,515,000 km2, which accounts for 15.2% of China's total land area. This has resulted in a nature reserve network covering multiple habitats across a variety of ecosystems. At the same time, the Chinese government has actively contributed to controlling green house gases and curbing biodiversity loss through tree-planting and afforestation campaigns, pollution control policies and clean development mechanism projects.

Minister Wu emphasized that currently China has just started its research in biodiversity's role in mitigating climate change and its adaptation to climate change and we are facing formidable tasks. We shall not only self-consciously follow economic rules and nature laws and try best to enhance environmental protection, but also learn more advanced international experience, ideas and technologies through international cooperation. In the future, we shall focus our attention more on the following aspects:

Firstly, develop a Strategy and Action Plan on Biodiversity and Climate Change. Within the framework of National Climate Change Programme of China, a Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity and Climate Change shall be developed as soon as possible to guide China's biodiversity's mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.

Secondly, further strengthen national capacity in biodiversity adaptation to and its mitigation of climate change. Relevant legal systems shall be constantly improved and law enforcement promoted to fill up gaps. Early warning system shall also be strengthened and a monitoring system for biodiversity and climate change linkages shall be developed and improved so that national capacity in this regards can be raised as a whole.

Thirdly, strengthen scientific support to biodiversity and climate change study. Biodiversity and climate change linkages study shall be supported by improved key technologies and management methods, upon which scientific decisions can be made for the development of China's Strategy and Action Plan on Biodiversity and Climate Change.

Fourthly, promote international cooperation and exchange on biodiversity and climate change. China needs to strengthen international cooperation and joint actions, and learn study results and best practices from others.

Fifthly, promote extensive public participation. We shall raise the awareness of more people in the potential threats of climate change and the important role of biodiversity in ensuring national eco-security and sustainable development.

Jointly sponsored by the State Environment Protection Administration, National Development and Reform Commission, European Union and United Nations Development Programme, organized by the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office of SEPA and supported by EU-China Biodiversity Programme, the International Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change attracted over 200 representatives from international organizations (such as EU Delegation, UNDP, foreign embassies, and residual offices of other international organizations in China), domestic governmental organs (such as Ministry of Commerce) and relevant research institutes and NGOs. During the workshop, over 10 domestic and foreign experts gave presentations on China and other countries' practice on climate change adaptation, biodiversity and climate change linkages and experience as well as best practice in biodiversity mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.

China is one of the most biodiversity-rich countries in the world, with 17,300 species of flowering plants and 667 endemic vertebrates. It has not only a wide range of wild species and ecological systems, but also diverse domestic plants and animals as well as their wild relative species. In addition, China boasts many unique genus and species, with ancient origin of flora and fauna and rich rare species. The Chinese Government attaches high emphasis on biodiversity conservation. The China Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBDSC), with SEPA as the leading agency and 24 ministries as its members, was established and has done a lot to implement CBD. China released a series of laws and regulations including Environmental Protection Law, Law on the Protection of Wild Animals, Forest Law, Regulations on Nature Reserves, Regulations on Wild Plants Protection and so on, thus forming a comprehensive legal network for biodiversity management. CBDSC and Inter-ministerial Joint Meeting on Biological Species Resources were established. China released and implemented the Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan (BCAP), the National programme for Eco-Environmental Conservation, Plan for Biological Species Resources Protection and Use and National Implementation Plan for Wetland Conservation Program (2005-2010). In addition, China had initiated lots of major campaigns including Construction of Agricultural Seven-Systems, Six Major Forest Engineering Projects, Conservation of Germplasm Resources and so on.

In order to better guide biodiversity conservation in China, SEPA is leading the development of China's National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan (NBSAP) together with other line ministries. This Plan will include seven parts such as baseline survey, gap analysis, strategy and priorities. Different sections will be drafted for special topics concerning key areas and priorities of CBD implementation. During the drafting of NBSAP, a special working group for climate change and biodiversity is established specifically for drafting China's Strategy and Action Plan on Biodiversity and Climate Change. This group will analyze current situation concerning biodiversity's mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, based on which it will propose priorities and a correspondent Strategy and Action Plan with a series of ensuring measures.