24 July 2018: The Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) has announced Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China, as its fifth Co-Chair. He joins the four other GCAS Co-Chairs: Governor of California Jerry Brown, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and Mahindra Group Chair Anand Mahindra.

In a statement, Xie said it is “inspiring and profound” to see subnational governments, business, investors and society play such “important” roles in climate action in recent years. He noted that their voluntary, pragmatic initiatives, which are generating “a powerful tide of transition” to low-carbon development pathways, provide impetus for global climate action.

The GCAS will convene from 12-14 September 2018 in San Francisco, US, under the theme ‘Take Ambition to the Next Level.’

Xie has been China’s chief negotiator for many years and helped negotiate the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015. At the national level, he has led China’s State Environmental Protection Agency since 1993. Xie has been involved in such issues as energy conservation and pollution reduction. He also helped establish the Chinese National Carbon Emission Trading System, and was recently awarded the Lui Che Woo Prize for his efforts to tackle climate change.

The GCAS, which will convene from 12-14 September 2018 in San Francisco, US, under the theme ‘Take Ambition to the Next Level,’ will bring together state and local governments, business representatives and civil society to showcase climate actions at all levels, and to inspire deeper commitments and accelerated action from countries to realize the goals of the Paris Agreement. [GCAS Press Release] [GCAS Website]