The Role of Chinese NGOs in Global Climate Governance: Reflections from COP29 and Prospects for COP30

Introduction:

Yang Peidan, Executive Director of C Team, spoke at China Development Brief’s annual forum， addressing the pivotal role of Chinese non-governmental organizations in the global fight against climate change. In this engaging session, Ms. Yang first reflected the participation of Chinese NGOs in COP29, emphasizing the need for cross-sector collaborations and calling for stronger engagement from civil society organizations worldwide. Highlighting the contributions of NGOs, including their involvement in critical climate dialogues, she discussed the increasing influence of Chinese organizations in shaping global climate policy. From grassroots initiatives to international cooperation, Ms Yang demonstrated the diverse ways non-governmental organizations can drive meaningful climate action and how these efforts align with China’s broader climate goals. Below is an edited version of Ms Yang’s speech at CDB’s forum.

Introduction of the C Team

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the organizers for inviting me to participate in today’s forum.  Allow me to begin with a brief introduction to the C Team. In December 2014, the C Team – the China Champions for Climate Action – was co-initiated by Mr. Wang Shi, the founder of Vanke, Mr. Lo Sze Ping, the former Chief Representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) China, and other prominent leaders in business and environment protection. Initially, C Team operated in a relatively informal manner. It was officially registered as a non-profit organization in Shenzhen in May 2017. Our mission is centered on promoting corporate low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.

I joined the C Team in January 2018.  With the support of the Vanke Foundation, my team and I have had the privilege of attending the United Nations climate conference annually, beginning with COP24.

Overview of COP29

Following Professor Teng Fei’s keynote speech, I’m honored to share my insights on the role that Chinese NGOs play in international climate governance and provide a summary of the observations from COP29. My presentation will be divided into four segments:

1. An introduction to the NGO observer status in the process of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
2. An overview of the themes and agenda of COP29, with a special focus on the China Pavilion.
3. Observations on the engagement of Chinese NGOs at COP29.
4. A forward-looking perspective on future actions, including preparations and expectations for COP30.

NGO Observer Organizations

Let’s first talk about the NGOs that have observer status, i.e. that have been admitted by the Conference of the Parties as observers to the UNFCCC.  As of now, there are 3,956 NGO observer organizations worldwide, with two-thirds of them based in Western Europe. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 13.6%, with 104 NGOs from China—74 from the mainland and 30 from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan—representing only 2.6% of the total. The number of NGO observers admitted by COP26 in Glasgow and COP28 in Dubai increased significantly, and this year (2024), we saw 153 new observer organizations, with 7 from China.

Among different types of NGO observer organizations, the top three in terms of number are environmental organizations (43%), research and independent NGOs (23%), and business and industry NGOs (12%). In addition, there are also organizations for children and youth, women and gender organizations, farmers groups, trade unions, and indigenous people organizations. Additionally, faith-based organizations and education/communication NGOs receive limited support from the secretariat during sessions.

At COP29, 193 Parties attended with 26,858 delegates, of which 12,784 were Party Overflow delegates. There were also 1,986 participants from the UN system, its specialized agencies and related organizations, 925 participants from 106 intergovernmental organizations and 8,356 from 1,776 NGO observer organizations. Additionally, 2220 media representatives were present, plus host country guests and others, bringing the total number of participants to 54,148.

Theme and Agenda of COP29

The COP29 presidency set up different thematic days for the two-week conference. Issues that Chinese NGOs are relatively more concerned with, such as relief and recovery, children and youth, health, education, food, agriculture and water resources, nature and biodiversity, all have corresponding thematic days.

The conference is divided into the Blue Zone and the Green Zone. The Blue Zone mainly carries out negotiations and hosts national pavilions, side events, press conferences, and exhibits. The Green Zone, on the other hand, is open to the general public and is used to showcase various climate actions and innovations. For example, the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate Change, initiated by Tsinghua University, set up a pavilion in the Green Zone to hold exchange activities.

The China Pavilion, which is China’s national pavilion, was hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. This year marked the first time that it was organized by the Education and Communication Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. About 50 side events were held in China Pavilion. These events covered a wide range of areas, including public participation, renewable energy, carbon markets, digitalization, finance, technical support, climate adaptation, corporate action, municipal-level action, and so on. NGOs also played an important role in this. It is worth mentioning that some organizations, such as the Vanke Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation, provided financial support for the establishment and operation of the China Pavilion.

Role of Chinese NGOs at COP29

As an organization originating from the COP, the C Team is dedicated to promoting the active participation of Chinese entrepreneurs and NGOs in the UNFCCC conferences. This year, we jointly initiated the “COP Together” project with the Vanke Foundation and the China Association for NGO Cooperation. Through workshops and pre-departure seminars, we help eligible NGOs apply for observer status in the UNFCCC process and assist them in attending the conference in Baku.

From my observation, the participating civil society organizations can be divided into three tiers:

1. Highly specialized NGOs, such as think tanks, which mainly track the negotiation process, write observation reports and policy recommendations, etc., to promote the global climate governance process.
2. Action-oriented NGOs or platform organizations, which promote the discussion and solutions of specific issues through organizing or participating in meetings and exhibits, and releasing reports, cases or initiatives.
3. NGOs that primarily observed and learned, sharing their experiences through media and social media channels and bringing these insights back to China.

This year, some organizations invited cultural and artistic workers, documentary filmmakers, and others to attend COP29, bringing fresh perspectives to the discussions.

Examples of Chinese NGOs’ Participation in COP29

During COP29, domestic think tanks such as the Green Innovation and Development Research Institute (iGDP) wrote a series of articles like “Baku Express” and “COP29 Observations”, interpreting the negotiation focuses and latest findings for a wide range of readers. More Chinese CSOs showcased China’s proactive climate actions through multiple side events and exhibits. Two side events hosted in the China Pavilion stand out: 1. the China Association for NGO Cooperation, the China Environmental Protection Foundation, and the SEE Foundation organized discussions on the role of civil society organizations in climate action. The conference emphasized the unique advantages of civil society organizations in policy advocacy, technical support, and public participation. 2.  “Climate Films and Communication”— an event where NGOs in joint efforts with multiple stakeholders demonstrated the power of climate-themed films in raising awareness about climate change.

In addition, the Greenovation Hub co-hosted a side event titled “Scaling Up Zero Carbon and Climate Resilience Financing: Enabling China-Central Asia-South Asia Cooperation on Energy Transition”. The Vanke Foundation supported five side events at the China Pavilion and showcased the achievements of projects such as “Zero Waste in the Forbidden City” and “Snow Leopard Protection on Mount Everest”.  The C Team launched the “Together We Act” digital platform for China’s dual-carbon talent program, and organizations like the Shan Shui Conservation Center shared experiences on the synergies and trade-offs between renewable energy expansion and biodiversity conservation at the conference.

CSOs such as the Plant Technology Alliance showcased innovative technologies and sustainable products related to climate action through exhibits and disseminated climate change issues to a broader public through media.

Outlook for COP30 and Beyond

Looking ahead to COP30, which will be held in Brazil, we anticipate that civil society organizations will be able to catalyze more solutions, promote technological and financial innovation, and contribute to the global goal of tripling renewable energy. At the same time, we also look forward to NGOs playing an active role at COP30 to facilitate the synergy between climate change and biodiversity issues, and to drive breakthroughs in issues such as climate adaptation, South-South collaboration, and just transition.

As an important force combating climate change, NGOs have great potential to engage a more diverse range of forces in climate action through cross-boundary innovation, public mobilization, and knowledge dissemination. In 2025, we will continue to promote the “COP Together” project, increase more NGO observer seats, and help more NGOs participate in COP30.

In conclusion, I hope civil society organizations will continue to strengthen their capacity for tracking climate negotiations, developing strategies, and using the annual COP conferences as a platform for driving major breakthroughs on global climate governance.

Thank you once again to the China Development Brief and the Ford Foundation for organizing this event. I look forward to continued dialogues and collaborations with more NGOs, foundations, and international organizations. Together, we will act as true companions in climate action.