Global Center on Adaptation opens an office in Beijing, China
Dutch prime Minister Mark Rutte, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announce the launch of the first regional office of the Global Center on Adaptation in China. The two countries have agreed to work closely together to accelerate action to make China and the region more resilient to the reality of the climate crisis on its fragile ecological environment.
Accelerate action in Asia
With the launch of the first regional office of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in China, the two countries have agreed to work closely together to accelerate action on adaptation to support greater resilience and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The regional office will support scaled-up and transformative adaptation initiatives across Asia and is the first of a planned global network of GCA offices and representatives positioned around the world to facilitate knowledge sharing and action across different territories.
Enhance capacity
On the occasion of the launch of the Global Center on Adaptation office in Beijing, Premier Li Keqiang said that his country takes the issue of climate change very serious. ‘Climate change is a global challenge which requires global co-operation. It is important for us to enhance capacity in both mitigation and adaptation. China will also continue to provide help to other developing countries, especially small islands states, in enhancing capacity in coping with climate change under the framework of South-South cooperation.’
Sharing experiences
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte offered to share Dutch experience in China and other parts of the world on how climate-informed choices can help ensure the benefits from these investments, as well as avoid billions of dollars in losses from future extreme storms, droughts, and other climate impacts.
Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, Ban Ki-moon warned for the large changes ahead. ‘I am calling on other countries and leaders to follow China's example in facing up to this stark reality. We must start preparing for large changes even while fighting to avoid them.’
Innovation and scale
Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation said: ‘I am delighted that China will host the first regional office for the Global Center on Adaptation. They have recognised that while mitigation alone is not enough, the costs of adaptation are less than the costs of doing business as usual. There are many bright spots where adaptation efforts have begun – but more urgency, innovation and scale is needed to avoid climatic impacts that are getting more severe with each passing year."
About GCA
Launched in 2018 the Global Center on Adaptation works to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, from the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future.
The Global Center on Adaptation is a Managing Partner of the Global Commission on Adaptation led by Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank.
The GCA head office is based in The Netherlands.
